Coffee machine with control unit for setting beverage parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee machines limit user control over beverage taste and caffeine content, as the brewing process cannot be individually influenced, and existing solutions only allow for basic mixing ratio adjustments without precise control over caffeine levels or bitterness.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a control device that allows users to set specific beverage parameters, including caffeine content and flavor profiles, by mixing different types of beans, with adjustable grinding levels, enabling precise control over the brewing process to achieve desired taste and caffeine levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional coffee machines use fixed brewing processes, then operation is simple, but beverage parameters such as taste and caffeine content cannot be individually adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by enabling dynamic adjustment of brewing parameters including water temperature, brewing time, and coffee-to-water ratio. The control unit allows users to modify these parameters to achieve desired taste profiles and caffeine content while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from fixed brewing parameters to dynamic, user-adjustable parameters. The control unit enables real-time modification of brewing conditions based on user preferences, allowing the same machine to adapt to different beverage requirements without requiring multiple specialized devices.
2Measurement precision
If users manually adjust mixing ratios of different coffee beans, then some customization is possible, but precise control over caffeine content and taste properties cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor and adjust the mixing ratios of different coffee bean types to achieve target caffeine content and taste properties. The system automatically calculates and adjusts proportions based on user specifications, eliminating the need for manual measurement while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of coffee bean mixing ratios based on user input parameters. The control unit automatically determines the required proportions of different bean types to achieve the desired caffeine content and taste profile, then executes the mixing and brewing process without requiring users to manually measure or calculate ratios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple storage containers with different bean types are used, then beverage customization possibilities increase, but the complexity of managing and selecting the right beans increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions by automatically managing the selection and coordination of multiple storage containers. It handles bean selection, ratio calculation, and dispensing control for different coffee types, allowing users to access diverse flavor profiles through a single unified interface rather than manually managing each container.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the user and the multiple storage containers. It translates user preferences into specific bean selection decisions, automatically determining which containers to access and in what proportions, thereby simplifying the interaction despite the presence of multiple bean storage locations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A coffee machine with a flow line system (2) with a water supply (14), a pump (8), a valve device (3) for controlling the flow paths, a flow heater (7) and at least one outlet nozzle (21, 22); - a brewing chamber (41); - At least two reservoirs (71, 72) for holding different types of dry matter, such as coffee beans; - a supply unit (74) for selectively supplying the dry substance from the storage containers (71, 72) into the brewing chamber (41): - a control device (18, uC) for activating and deactivating the pump (8), the valve device (3) and of the flow heater (7) in such a way as to cause the dry matter to be brewed and a drink to be produced, the control device (18, uC) comprising the following: - a memory (MEM) for storing specific parameters for two or more types of beans (A, B, C) and specific beverage parameters for a selected or configured beverage. In order to set the taste and/or the caffeine content individually in a simple manner while maintaining the specified taste, the control device (18, uC) comprises an allocation unit (19) which is set up as follows: - to define a specified total amount of dry substance; - Set a first proportion (M) for the addition of a first type of bean (A, B, C); - define a second proportion for the addition of a second type of bean (A, B, C); wherein the assignment unit (19) is set up or programmed in such a way that the first portion and the second portion result depending on the specified specific beverage parameters of the configured beverage, in order to supply the supply unit (74) with the quantity of beans corresponding to their specified portion (M) in the brewing chamber (42).