Infusion assembly for preparing infused beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion devices in coffee machines require disassembly for cleaning and adjusting valve members, and are prone to encrustations that affect beverage quality.
Innovation Solution
A valve member with a movable plug and outer lever for adjusting and cleaning from the outside, allowing control of beverage flow and encrustation removal without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the valve member is designed as a integrated component, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for adjustment and cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is segmented into multiple functional components: a plug with closing elements, elastic elements for force application, and a supporting element with an outer lever. This segmentation allows the closing elements to be independently adjusted and cleaned while maintaining the integrated valve structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer lever acts as an intermediary mechanism that transmits user input to the supporting element, which in turn applies force to the elastic elements and closing elements. This intermediary structure enables external adjustment and cleaning operations without requiring disassembly of the valve member, maintaining both structural integration and operational accessibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If the valve member requires disassembly for cleaning, then the manufacturing precision can be maintained, but the loss of time for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member incorporates an external adjustment and cleaning mechanism where the outer lever allows users to perform maintenance operations directly on the closing elements without disassembly. The closing elements are designed to be accessible through the lever mechanism, enabling self-service cleaning that maintains manufacturing precision while eliminating time loss associated with disassembly and reassembly.
3Reliability
If the passage duct has a closed structure, then the reliability of beverage containment is improved, but the ease of operation for cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The passage duct maintains its closed structure for reliability, but the cleaning function is segmented into separate accessible components - the closing elements on the plug can be independently operated via the outer lever. This allows the main duct structure to remain sealed while specific cleaning points are accessible, resolving the contradiction between containment reliability and cleaning ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer lever serves as an intermediary that provides external access to the closing elements within the closed passage duct structure. Users can operate the lever to adjust or clean the closing elements without opening the duct, maintaining beverage containment integrity while enabling easy cleaning operations on critical components.
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
Enables external regulation of beverage infusion and cleaning, maintaining optimal creaminess and reducing dirt formation in the delivery system.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic element adapted for exerting an elastic force onto said at least one closing element
Implementation Method 2
said supporting element being configured for compressing or expanding said at least one elastic element
Implementation Method 3
said supporting element being controlled by an outer lever for being operated from the outside
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An infusion assembly (1) is described, for example for coffee machines of the type operating with pods or capsules containing aromatic essences, comprising: - an infusion chamber (2) delimited by a first cup-shaped infusing element (3) provided with a cavity (4) for accommodating an infusion capsule or pod (20) therein and a second infusing element which cooperates with the first infusing element (3) so as to define, when coupled therewith, said infusion chamber (2); - a valve member (7) combined with said infusion chamber (2), for controlling the delivery of the infused beverage; - said valve member (7) comprising: - at least one passage duct (5) for the passage of the infused beverage from the infusion chamber (2), comprising a first portion (5') in fluidic communication with said infusion chamber (2) and a second portion (5") in communication with a delivering hopper (8) configured for delivering the infused beverage into an outer container; - a plug (13) movable at least between: c) a forward closed position, in which it prevents the outflow of the infused beverage from the infusion chamber (2), below a predefined pressure value; and d) a rearward open position, in which it allows the passage of the beverage from the second portion (5") to the delivering hopper (8), above the predefined pressure value; characterized in that said infusion assembly (1) further comprises a divider (9) arranged in said hopper (8) and configured for splitting the flow of infused beverage coming from said passage duct (5).