Coffee Brewer Piston Drive With Linear Guide for Low-Noise Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee brewing devices in fully automatic machines have a large volume and generate high noise due to their drive mechanisms, which include multiple toothed wheels and are structurally complex and costly to produce.

Innovation Solution

A drive system featuring a first gear wheel with an internal thread mounted on an external thread of a guide cylinder, a housing with a linear guide to prevent radial movement, and a second gear with a controlled rotation axis, reducing radial vibrations and noise through a stable gear meshing and low-friction materials, and a metal plate coupling for enhanced stability and noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a drive device with multiple toothed wheels is used to move the brewing piston, then the brewing device can perform the brewing function, but the device generates high noise emissions and has a large volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoiddrive device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drive mechanism and linear guide into a single integrated housing structure. The housing serves dual functions: it contains the first and second gear wheels while simultaneously providing linear guidance for the brewing piston through guide elements built into the housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate drive and guide components, reducing overall device volume and complexity while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple tasks: it houses the gear mechanism, provides linear guidance for the brewing piston, and reduces noise through its enclosed structure. The guide elements within the housing provide both structural support and motion guidance, making the housing a universal component that addresses multiple requirements simultaneously.

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

2Productivity

If a drive device with multiple toothed wheels is used to move the brewing piston, then the brewing device can perform the brewing function, but the device has a large volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrewing functionVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where the first gear wheel is positioned inside the housing, the second gear wheel is positioned inside the housing, and the brewing piston moves within the same housing structure. This nesting of multiple functional elements within a single compact housing significantly reduces the overall device volume while maintaining all necessary brewing functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a traditional horizontal gear arrangement to a vertical arrangement where the brewing piston moves vertically within the housing. The first gear wheel rotates on a horizontal axis while the second gear wheel rotates on a vertical axis, creating a compact three-dimensional layout that optimizes space utilization and reduces the device's footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the housing is allowed to move radially during operation, then the drive mechanism has freedom of movement, but radial vibrations increase and smooth running deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidradial stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates guide elements within the housing that pre-establish linear guidance paths for the brewing piston before operation begins. These guide elements constrain the brewing piston to move only along the intended linear path, preventing radial vibrations and ensuring stable operation from the start of each brewing cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the rotating gear wheels and the linearly moving brewing piston. It contains the gear mechanism while providing linear guidance through integrated guide elements, ensuring that rotational motion is smoothly converted to linear motion without radial vibrations or instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 results in a quieter, more compact, and cost-effective drive system that reduces noise emissions and improves the smooth operation of the brewing device, allowing for a smaller and more stable brewing unit.

Implementation Method 1

a first gear wheel (10) with an internal thread (11), via which this first gear wheel (10) is rotatably mounted on an external thread (21) of a guide cylinder (20), so that the first gear wheel (10) can be moved along a cylinder axis (22) of the guide cylinder (20) when rotating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

the drive comprises a linear guide (80) for the housing (50), which linear guide (80) runs at a distance parallel to the cylinder axis (22) and with which the housing (50) is engaged in such a way that movement of the housing (50) relative to the linear guide (80) in a direction radial to the cylinder axis (22) is prevented

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLinear guide constraint:

Implementation Method 3

a second gear (30) meshing with said first gear (10) for driving said first gear (10) along said cylinder axis (22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP2196116B1Drive for a coffee brewing device and coffee brewing device
Publication Date: 2011.11.16 JURA ELEKTROAPPARATE AG
  • EP2196116B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2196116B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2196116B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive (1) for a coffee brewing device, comprising: a first gear (10) with an internal thread (11) via which this first gear (10) is rotatably mounted on an external thread (21) of a guide cylinder (20), so that the first gear (10) is movable when rotating along a cylinder axis (22) of the guide cylinder (20); a second gear (30) which engages with the first gear (10) to drive it along the cylinder axis (22); a housing (50) in which the first gear (10) is received; a brewing piston (40) which is coupled to the housing (50) so that this brewing piston (40) together with the first gear (10) is movable along the cylinder axis (22).The drive (1) comprises a linear guide (80) for guiding the housing (50), which runs at a distance parallel to the cylinder axis (22) and with which the housing (50) engages in such a way that movement of the housing (50) relative to the linear guide (80) in a direction radial to the cylinder axis (22) is prevented, wherein a rotation axis (32) of the second gear (30) is arranged at a predetermined distance relative to the linear guide (80).