Coffee Dispenser Funnel Geometry for Crema-Preserving Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional coffee machines with a front door that can be opened face challenges in maintaining the organoleptic characteristics of the infusion during dispensing, as the external dispenser's funnel is subject to free fall, leading to cooling and loss of creamy consistency due to interference with other machine parts.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine design featuring a protection housing for the external dispenser with a fixed and movable part, allowing the funnel elements to rotate and adjust their slope for guided infusion without jumps, ensuring consistent organoleptic quality by minimizing free fall and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the external dispenser is supported by a front door that can be opened, then the machine structure is more compact and accessible, but the funnel is subject to free fall during door operation, causing cooling and loss of creamy consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with movable parts that allow dynamic adjustment of the funnel position. The housing can move between a first position (door closed) and a second position (door open), enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on operational state while maintaining infusion quality throughout the door operation cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is divided into multiple segments including a fixed part and a movable part that can independently adjust. This segmentation allows the funnel to be positioned optimally during both door closed and door open states, preventing free fall while maintaining accessibility
2Reliability
If a flexible tube is used to connect internal and external dispensers, then infusion path continuity is improved, but the tube interferes with machine parts during door opening and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tube is completely removed from the system. Instead, the patent uses a rigid conduit integrated into the housing structure that provides a stable, interference-free path for infusion from the internal dispenser to the external dispenser, eliminating the problems associated with flexible tube handling during door operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the funnel is in a protracted configuration with telescopic housing, then adaptability to different cup heights is improved, but the infusion undergoes significant free fall, deteriorating its organoleptic characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The housing incorporates movable elements that allow dynamic adjustment of the funnel's position and angle. This enables the system to adapt to different cup heights while maintaining a controlled infusion path that minimizes free fall, preserving the infusion's creamy consistency and temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the housing configuration (position, angle, extension) to adapt to different dispensing requirements. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves versatility for different cup heights while maintaining optimal infusion flow characteristics through controlled positioning
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 design allows for efficient dispensing into cups of varying heights while preserving the infusion's characteristics, maintaining the desired taste and texture by eliminating free falls and ensuring a controlled, inclined path for the infusion.
Implementation Method 1
the provision of the small flexible tube is strongly discouraged and cannot be practically realized due to the possible negative interference with other parts of the machine during the handling of the external dispenser and most of all during the opening of the door
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The coffee machine (1) comprises and infusion assembly (2) provided with an internal dispenser (3) inside the machine (1), a front door (4) which can be opened and supports an external dispenser (5) able to receive the infusion from the internal dispenser (3), the external dispenser (5) comprising hopper means (6) for the guided sliding of the infusion towards an end (7) of the hopper means (6) from which the infusion separates for dropping in at least one underlying cup (8), the hopper means (6) being variable between a first configuration having a greater slope for positioning the separation end (7) at a smaller distance from the cup support plane (9) and at least one second configuration having a smaller slope for positioning the separation end (7) at a greater distance from the cup support plane (9).