Device for preparing a coffee product
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee preparation devices face challenges in maintaining consistent coffee quality due to fluctuations in coffee amount, grind size, and compactness, which affect pressure and retention time, leading to undesirable variations in the final product.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an adjustable valve device with a controllable restriction in the outlet conduit, regulated by an electronic control system and flow sensor, to manage system resistance and compensate for disruptive influences, allowing for variable pressure and retention time profiles to achieve consistent coffee quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an adjustable valve device with controllable restriction is added to the outlet conduit, then coffee quality stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device incorporates an adjustable restriction that can be dynamically modified during operation. The control system varies the restriction degree based on measured volume flow rates, allowing the system to adapt to different coffee bed conditions and maintain stable extraction parameters despite variations in coffee amount, grind size, or compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow sensor measures the actual volume flow rate of the coffee product and provides this information to the control system. The control system uses this feedback to adjust the restriction of the valve device, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains stable extraction conditions by compensating for disturbances in real-time.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the restriction is adjusted to compensate for coffee bed variations, then product consistency is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives feedback from the flow sensor regarding the actual volume flow rate and automatically adjusts the valve restriction accordingly. This closed-loop control compensates for variations in coffee bed resistance, ensuring consistent extraction conditions and product quality despite changes in coffee amount, grind size, or compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system modifies the restriction parameter of the valve device based on the measured volume flow rate. By dynamically changing this physical parameter, the system maintains optimal extraction conditions across different coffee preparations and compensates for disturbances without requiring complex manual intervention.
3Productivity
If the valve restriction is reduced to increase volume flow, then productivity is improved, but pressure and retention time decrease affecting quality
Solution Approach 1:
The valve restriction is made dynamically adjustable during the preparation cycle. The control system can vary the restriction degree at different time points, allowing for high flow rates when needed while maintaining appropriate pressure and retention time conditions for quality extraction. This dynamic control enables optimization of both productivity and quality that static systems cannot achieve.
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 adjustable valve device stabilizes coffee quality by minimizing the impact of coffee bed variations, enabling the production of diverse coffee products with consistent quality and allowing for customizable pressure and retention time settings, such as low-pressure coffee for a milder taste or high-pressure espresso.
Implementation Method 1
pump means for carrying hot water under increased pressure to the preparation chamber
Implementation Method 2
Hot water is then pressed under high pressure through the coffee bed
Implementation Method 3
the product conduit comprises an adjustable valve device with an adjustable restriction... regulate the resistance of the system during preparation of the product
Implementation Method 4
a flow sensor is provided therein in order to measure a magnitude of a volume flow of the product
Data Source
AI summary
A device for preparing a coffee product comprises a preparation chamber (135) which is intended and configured to receive and collect a quantity of ground coffee in a coffee bed (125), and pump means (15) for carrying water under increased pressure to the preparation chamber. The preparation chamber (135) is provided with a water inlet (136) for water at increased temperature and pressure on a first side of the coffee bed (125) and with an outlet (137) on an opposite side beyond the coffee bed (125). The outlet is coupled via a liquid conduit (20) to an outflow (6) at which the coffee product can be taken away. The device is provided with an electronic control system (17) which imposes a preparation cycle each time a product is prepared. Accommodated here in the liquid conduit (20) between the outlet (137) of the preparation chamber (135) and the outflow (6) at which the coffee product can be taken away is an adjustable restriction (30) with a passage (35) which is proportionally adjustable and controllable by the control system (17).