Coffee Machine Water Dispenser with Flow-Adaptive Discharge Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee machines produce sub-optimal coffee when the water reservoir is not full, as brewing is optimized for a full container, leading to inconsistent coffee quality.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a water dispenser nozzle that generates variable water flow speeds, allowing for different discharge patterns based on the amount of coffee being brewed, ensuring optimal water distribution and temperature for improved coffee quality, featuring a switch mechanism, water flow pulse generator, and a pump controlled by a unit to automate flow speed adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the water dispenser uses fixed openings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different coffee amounts is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The water dispenser nozzle utilizes the dynamic effect of varying water flow speeds to change the discharge pattern. At higher flow speeds, water pressure forces openings to close, directing water through the center. At lower flow speeds, openings remain open to distribute water over a wider area. This dynamic response allows a single fixed-structure nozzle to adapt to different brewing requirements without mechanical moving parts.
2Productivity
If the water flow speed is increased, then the brewing speed is improved, but the water temperature is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water flow speed based on the amount of coffee being brewed. For small amounts of coffee, lower flow speeds are used to maintain water temperature and allow proper extraction. For large amounts of coffee, higher flow speeds are used to maintain brewing efficiency. The nozzle's discharge pattern automatically adapts to each flow speed condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The water dispenser nozzle provides different local discharge qualities depending on flow speed. At low flow speeds, water is distributed over a wide area through open side openings for gentle extraction. At high flow speeds, water is concentrated in a narrow stream through closed side openings for rapid brewing. This local quality variation resolves the temperature-speed tradeoff.
3Temperature
If the water is discharged over a small surface area, then the water temperature can be maintained high, but the coffee extraction coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle dynamically changes its effective discharge area in response to water flow speed. When flow speed is low, side openings remain open to expand the discharge area for wide coverage. When flow speed is high, side openings close to concentrate the discharge area for high-temperature focused extraction. This dynamic area adjustment matches the brewing requirements for different coffee amounts.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a coffee machine (1). The coffee machine (1) is arranged to generate a variable flow speed of water comprising at least a first flow speed of water and a second flow speed of water, wherein the water dispenser (4) is configured to discharge water in a first water discharge pattern when fed with said first flow speed of water and a second water discharge pattern when fed with said second flow speed of water. Hereby it is obtained that different water patterns can be discharged from the water dispenser (4) depending on the flow speed of water supplied to the water dispenser. This results in that the water discharge pattern can be controlled by controlling the flow speed of water.