Coffee Maker Rotating Arm Dispenser for Uniform Water Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee makers often fail to uniformly distribute water over ground coffee, leading to suboptimal coffee extraction and nozzle clogging due to the intense supply of water to specific portions, which hinders the production of high-quality coffee.
Innovation Solution
A coffee maker with a dispenser featuring a rotatable arm and dual actuators that allow for precise control over the nozzle's movement, enabling uniform water distribution and avoiding clogging by adjusting its position relative to the coffee grounds, utilizing a combination of ring gears and a clutch mechanism for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed nozzle supplies water to ground coffee, then the structure is simple, but water distribution is uneven and nozzle clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is transformed from a fixed position to a movable position through a rotating arm mechanism. The arm can rotate around the inlet of the extractor, allowing the nozzle to dynamically adjust its position and supply water to different areas of the ground coffee, achieving uniform water distribution while preventing clogging by avoiding direct alignment with the coffee supply path.
2Productivity
If the nozzle supplies water intensively to a specific portion, then the structure is simple, but coffee extraction quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating arm mechanism enables the nozzle to move dynamically across different positions above the ground coffee. This dynamic positioning allows water to be distributed uniformly across the entire coffee bed, ensuring high-quality extraction. The arm's rotation is controlled to achieve comprehensive water coverage without requiring complex multi-axis movement systems.
3Reliability
If the nozzle remains stationary above the inlet, then the device is simple, but nozzle clogging occurs due to ground coffee accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is mounted on a rotating arm that can change its position relative to the inlet and ground coffee. By rotating the arm, the nozzle can be positioned away from areas where ground coffee accumulates, preventing clogging. The dynamic positioning ensures the nozzle remains clear of coffee particles while still能够有效 supply water to the coffee bed.
Data Source
AI summary
A coffee maker includes an extractor configured to receive ground coffee and water and to extract coffee from the ground coffee, and a dispenser configured to supply water to the ground coffee in the extractor. The dispenser includes an arm that is rotatably disposed vertically above an inlet of the extractor and includes a nozzle configured to supply water to the ground coffee in the extractor, a first actuator configured to rotatably support the arm and to rotate the arm about a center of the inlet along an edge of the inlet, and a second actuator connected to the arm and configured to rotate the arm relative to the first actuator.