Filter for a filter holder cup of a coffee machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machine filters with irremovable filtering walls suffer from rapid performance deterioration due to impurity accumulation and clogging, affecting hygiene and organoleptic quality, while removable filters can damage seals and leave residues.

Innovation Solution

A coffee machine filter with a removable filtering wall and an additional filtering element that seals around the dispensing hole, dividing the dispensing chamber into storage and dispensing subchambers, preventing coffee powder particles from clogging the hole and simplifying cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filtering wall is made irremovable, then the filter structure is simpler and more reliable, but the dispensing hole gets clogged due to impurity accumulation and the filter performance deteriorates rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter performance stabilityVSAvoiddispensing hole clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into separable components: a removable filtering wall and a cup body with dispensing hole. This allows the filtering wall to be removed for cleaning the dispensing chamber without damaging the cup body or dispensing hole, thus preventing clogging while maintaining structural simplicity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering wall is designed to be dynamically removable rather than permanently fixed. This dynamic configuration enables periodic cleaning access to the dispensing chamber to prevent clogging, while maintaining a fixed, simple structure during coffee brewing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the filtering wall is made removable to allow cleaning, then access to the dispensing chamber is improved, but the seal gasket gets damaged and coffee powder particles deposit in the dispensing chamber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidcoffee powder deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filtering wall with its gasket is extracted as a separate removable component from the cup body. This allows the gasket to be removed together with the filtering wall during cleaning operations, preventing gasket damage from repeated insertion/removal cycles while enabling complete access to the dispensing chamber for thorough cleaning to prevent powder deposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering wall is removed before cleaning operations to prevent coffee powder from entering the dispensing chamber during the cleaning process. This preliminary action ensures that the dispensing chamber can be cleaned without risk of contamination, maintaining hygiene while enabling easy access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the filtering wall is removed for cleaning, then the dispensing chamber can be inspected and cleaned, but cleaning is not performed properly and residues remain inside the dispensing chamber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning convenienceVSAvoidhygienic conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter design enables the user to easily remove the filtering wall and clean the dispensing chamber themselves without requiring special tools or complex procedures. The simple removable design encourages proper cleaning maintenance, and the complete removal allows thorough cleaning that prevents residue accumulation, maintaining hygienic conditions through user self-service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 prevents dispensing hole obstruction, maintains hygiene and organoleptic quality, and facilitates easy cleaning, ensuring long-term efficiency and effective coffee infusion.

Implementation Method 1

Said filtering wall has a plurality of through holes calibrated for the selective transition of the infused coffee

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSize exclusion filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

Said filtering element engages sealingly with said bottom wall along a closed line circumscribing said dispensing hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS11638498B2Filter for a filter holder cup of a coffee machine

Publication Date: 2023.05.02 DE LONGHI APPLIANCES SRL

AI summary

The filter (6, 13) for a filter holder cup (2) of a coffee machine, including a cup body (6) having a bottom wall (7) provided with a dispensing hole (8) for dispensing infused coffee and a side wall (9) that bounds a compartment (10) with the bottom wall (7), inside the compartment (10) a separating filtering wall (13) being further positioned between an upper housing chamber (14) housing coffee powder and a lower dispensing chamber (15) for dispensing the infused coffee including said dispensing hole (8), inside said dispensing chamber (15) a filtering element (17) is provided to protect said dispensing hole (8).