Coffee Machine Filter Cleaning Device with Sealed Motor Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machine filter cleaning devices are complicated and costly to assemble due to the need for protective structures around the electric motor, which risks damage from coffee grounds, and are not reliable in preventing dust and coffee residue from reaching the motor.
Innovation Solution
A device with a containment structure and brush system where the brush is rotated within a housing chamber with a tubular shape, keeping the motor sealed and protected, and a collection tank for coffee grounds, allowing easy assembly and effective cleaning without complex support structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a box-like protective structure is arranged around the electric motor to prevent coffee grounds from damaging it, then the motor is protected from dust and coffee residue, but the device becomes particularly complicated and costly to assemble due to the need to seal the box-like portion
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is extracted from the housing chamber and positioned outside it. The drive shaft extends through the housing wall to transmit rotational motion to the brush. This extraction eliminates the need for complex sealed protective structures around the motor while still protecting it from coffee grounds, as the motor operates in a clean environment outside the chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft acts as an intermediary element that transmits rotational motion from the electric motor (positioned outside the housing chamber) to the brush (inside the housing chamber). This mediator allows the motor to remain outside the contaminated environment while still driving the cleaning brush effectively.
2Device complexity
If the electric motor is placed below the rotating brush to simplify the structure, then the structure is simpler, but the ground coffee falls by gravity towards the bottom of the housing chamber and dirties the electric motor, risking damage to it
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is extracted from the housing chamber and positioned outside it, eliminating the risk of coffee grounds contaminating the motor while maintaining structural simplicity. The motor operates in a clean environment, and its rotational power is transmitted to the brush through the drive shaft that passes through the housing wall.
3Reliability
If a sealed box-like portion is used to protect the electric motor, then the motor is reliably protected from dust, but the device is costly and complicated to assemble due to sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is positioned outside the housing chamber, eliminating the need for any sealed protective structure. The motor is inherently protected from dust by its external position, and the drive shaft provides a simple connection point through the housing wall without requiring complex sealing mechanisms.
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 device is simple to assemble, resistant to coffee grounds, and reliable in operation, preventing motor damage and ensuring efficient cleaning of coffee machine filters with a sealed electric motor and easy collection of residues.
Implementation Method 1
the coffee grounds fall by gravity outside the filter, following the mechanical action executed by the rotating brush of the device
Data Source
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AI summary
Device (1) for cleaning filters for coffee machines comprising a containment structure (2), which defines a housing chamber (3) provided with at least one inlet opening (4), a brush (5), which is placed inside the housing chamber (3), faces the inlet opening (4) and is susceptible of being rotated around a rotation axis (X) thereof, movement means (6), which carry the brush (5) mounted thereon and are arranged in order to rotate the aforesaid brush (5) around the rotation axis (X), and a support structure (7), which is mechanically connected to the containment structure (2), is placed mainly inside the housing chamber (3) of the containment structure (2), defines a mounting seat (8) for the movement means (6) and is arranged for supporting such movement means (6) inside the housing chamber (3). In addition, the movement means (6) comprising an electric motor (9) provided with a casing (10) and with a drive shaft (11). The casing (10) is sealed against dust, it is partly inserted in the mounting seat (8) and partly extended outside the mounting seat (8) and, in addition, the drive shaft (11) is rotatably inserted in the casing (10), carries the brush (5) mounted thereon and is actuatable in rotation with respect to the casing (10) in order to rotate the aforesaid brush (5).