Coupled Beverage Outlet Head for Intuitive Nozzle Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage outlet heads in hot beverage machines are complex and require a deep understanding from users due to the combination of height-adjustable and distance-adjustable nozzles, leading to operational difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A vertically adjustable beverage outlet head with two horizontally movable nozzles, where the actuating device couples the nozzles' positions to specific distances, ensuring a clear and reproducible relationship between the outlet head's position and nozzle spacing, allowing for simple and intuitive operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the beverage outlet head is made height-adjustable and the outlet nozzles are made distance-adjustable independently, then the adaptability to different vessels is improved, but the device complexity and user understanding requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the height adjustment of the beverage outlet head with the horizontal distance adjustment of the outlet nozzles into a single coupled mechanism. When the outlet head moves vertically between lowered and raised positions, the outlet nozzles automatically adjust their horizontal distance accordingly. This merging of two independent adjustment functions into one unified system reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different vessel types and sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the outlet nozzles are made distance-adjustable independently, then the adaptability to different vessel sizes is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring deep understanding
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment where the position of the outlet nozzles is automatically determined by the position of the beverage outlet head. The coupling mechanism ensures that when the user adjusts the head height, the nozzle distance adjusts automatically without requiring the user to understand or control the distance adjustment separately. This self-service approach simplifies operation while maintaining adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all conceivable combinations of outlet head positions and nozzle distances are allowed, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring complex control
Solution Approach 1:
The coupled adjustment mechanism provides universal adaptability by ensuring that at each of the two vertical positions of the outlet head (lowered and raised), there is a corresponding optimal nozzle distance configuration. This universal coupling ensures that the system is always in a correct, pre-determined state for any given head position, eliminating the need for complex control while maintaining adaptability to different vessel types.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A beverage outlet head (1) for hot beverage machines for household purposes, which is vertically adjustable at least between a lowered position and a raised position, with two outlet nozzles (1) which are arranged side by side on the beverage outlet head (1) and can be moved horizontally to change their mutual distance by means of an actuating device , is further developed according to the invention by coupling the actuating device (3, 4) of the outlet nozzles (5) to the beverage outlet head (1), so that a raised position of the beverage outlet head (1) with a first spacing (A) of the outlet nozzles (5) and a lowered position of the beverage outlet head (1) corresponds to a second distance (B) of the outlet nozzles (5), which is different from the first distance (A). The invention also relates to a hot beverage machine for household purposes with such a beverage outlet head (1).