Component for a coffee machine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Coffee machine components, particularly the E61-type dispensing group, face issues with corrosion and wear due to continuous water contact, leading to premature fatigue failure and potential health hazards from metal residue contamination, especially with nickel-plated brass and lead-containing materials.

Innovation Solution

A coffee machine component featuring a ceramic stem and stainless steel head, integrally bound with food-grade adhesives, which provides enhanced corrosion resistance and prevents the release of harmful substances into the water, ensuring durability and hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nickel-plated brass or lead-containing materials are used for the stem, then corrosion resistance is improved, but toxic substances are released into the water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidtoxic substance release
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure combining ceramic material (for corrosion resistance and non-toxicity) with metal components (for mechanical strength). The ceramic stem replaces traditional nickel-plated brass or lead-containing materials, providing both corrosion resistance and elimination of toxic substance release into the water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If metallic materials are used for the stem, then mechanical strength is maintained, but corrosion and fatigue wear occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidcorrosion and fatigue resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a composite material system where ceramic provides superior corrosion and fatigue resistance, while metal components (stainless steel head, brass dispersing filter) maintain necessary mechanical strength. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by assigning different material properties to different functional requirements within the same component assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 ceramic stem and stainless steel head combination significantly reduces corrosion and fatigue wear, enhancing the component's durability and safety by preventing the release of toxic materials into the water, thus extending the component's lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

integrally bound with food-grade adhesives

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3295840B1Component for a coffee machine
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 ROCKET MILANO SRL
  • EP3295840B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3295840B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A coffee machine component (1) is provided, which is at least partially embeddable inside a chamber (4) of a dispensing group (5) and adapted to hermetically seal the chamber (4), comprising a head (2) and a stem (3) whose head comprises at least a first cavity (20) and at least one injector (21); the stem (3) comprising a second cavity (30), the component (1) being at least partially embeddable inside a chamber (4), and wherein the stem (3) is made of a ceramic material.