Coffee Dose Pressing Piston With Anti-Detachment Air Channels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee powder preparation devices face issues with coffee powder dispersal and detachment from the filter during the pressing process, leading to inhomogeneous infusion and compromised organoleptic properties of the coffee.

Innovation Solution

A device with a pressing piston equipped with anti-detachment means, including a selectively permeable filtering element and air channels, prevents the detachment of coffee powder from the filter by maintaining atmospheric pressure and using a scraping perimeter gasket to ensure a tight seal, thereby optimizing the infusion process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pressing piston disengages the filter and ascends along the conveying conduit, then the pressing function is completed, but vacuum is generated in the gap between the piston and the pressed dose of ground coffee powder causing detachment of the coffee powder from the filter walls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing function completionVSAvoidattachment of coffee powder to filter walls
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing air channels that communicate the interior of the pressing piston with the external environment before the vacuum can cause detachment. These air channels allow air to enter the gap between the piston and coffee powder during the ascent, equalizing pressure and preventing the vacuum-induced detachment of coffee powder from the filter walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses air as an intermediary substance introduced through air channels into the gap between the pressing piston and the coffee powder. This intermediary air pressure counteracts the vacuum force that would otherwise cause detachment, thereby maintaining the stability of the coffee powder attachment to the filter walls during piston disengagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the coffee powder detaches from the filter walls, then the pressing process is completed, but inhomogeneous extraction occurs during infusion with preferential paths along the detachment zone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing process completionVSAvoiduniformity of coffee powder distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The air channels provide preliminary action by equalizing pressure in the gap between the piston and coffee powder before detachment can occur. This prevents the formation of preferential paths and maintains uniform coffee powder distribution against the filter walls, ensuring homogeneous extraction during infusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the cup is moved from the zone of collection to the pressing zone, then the pressing function can be performed, but dispersal of coffee powder outside the cup occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing function capabilityVSAvoidcoffee powder dispersal
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the collection function and pressing function into the same spatial zone by providing a conveying conduit that integrates both functions. The pressing piston operates within the conveying conduit structure, eliminating the need to move the cup between separate zones and thereby preventing coffee powder dispersal outside the cup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of substance

If a conveying conduit is provided for conveying coffee powder, then coffee powder dispersal is avoided, but the structure complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoffee powder dispersal preventionVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying conduit is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the collection zone and the pressing zone structure, and also serves as the pathway for piston movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while still preventing coffee powder dispersal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the collection chamber and pressing chamber into a single integrated structure within the conveying conduit. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate collection and pressing zones, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the benefit of preventing coffee powder dispersal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures uniform adhesion of the coffee powder to the filter, preventing preferential paths for infusion water and maintaining optimal organoleptic properties of the coffee.

Implementation Method 1

a filtering element that is selectively permeable to the air but not to said ground coffee

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

said scraping perimeter gasket is configured to form a tight seal with the inner side of said vertical cylindrical conveying conduit and with the inner side of a cylindrical wall of said filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4181748B1Device for preparing a dose of ground coffee powder
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 DE LONGHI APPLIANCES SRL
  • EP4181748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4181748B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4181748B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device (2) for preparing a dose (100) of ground coffee powder ready for infusion comprises a cup (3) provided with a gripping handle (13) and housing a filter (4) containing said dose of ground coffee powder (100), a coupling support (7) in which the cup (3) is coupled separably, and a pressing piston (15) that is engageable in the filter (4) for pressing the dose of ground coffee powder (100), the pressing piston (15) having anti-detachment means configured to prevent the detachment of the pressed dose of ground coffee powder (100) from the walls (4a, 4b) of the filter (4) when the pressing piston (15) disengages the filter (4).