Beverage Machine Cup Support With Integrated Draining Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage machines lack versatility in their drip tray devices with cup or mug supports, particularly in accommodating recipients of different sizes and providing a solution for draining residual liquids without a kitchen sink or draining board nearby.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a dispensing area for receiving beverages and a non-dispensing area adjacent to it, allowing recipients to be placed upside down for liquid drainage into a collector, which can be used as a draining board for multiple cups, even when the machine is not near a kitchen sink, featuring a grid or perforated design with a larger surface area for efficient liquid evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional drip tray with cup support is used, then the machine structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate recipients of different sizes and provides no drainage function
Solution Approach 1:
The drip tray is divided into a first receptacle stand with a first grid for small recipients and a second receptacle stand with a second grid for large recipients. This segmentation allows the device to accommodate different sizes of recipients while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drip tray assembly serves multiple functions: it supports both small and large recipients, provides drainage through grids, and acts as a collector for liquid waste. This multi-functionality increases versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a movable cup support is added to accommodate different cup sizes, then versatility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single movable support, the system uses two separate fixed receptacle stands (first and second stands) positioned at different heights. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex movable mechanisms while still accommodating different cup sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than making a single support movable to adapt to different cup sizes, the invention inverts the approach by providing multiple fixed supports at different positions. This eliminates mechanical complexity while achieving the same versatility.
3Productivity
If the drip tray is designed with a larger surface area for drainage, then liquid evacuation efficiency improves, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The grids are designed with varying densities in different areas. The first grid for small recipients has a different configuration than the second grid for large recipients, optimizing drainage efficiency for each specific use case without unnecessarily increasing the overall area.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage function is segmented into two separate grids corresponding to the two receptacle stands. This allows each grid to be optimized for its specific purpose, improving overall drainage efficiency without requiring a uniformly large surface area.
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
Enables convenient and efficient drainage of residual liquids from various-sized recipients, allowing users to keep their beverage preparation area clean without needing to transport dripping cups to a sink, and accommodating multiple cups for easy cleaning by staff.
Implementation Method 1
a support device that is located under the beverage outlet and that has an arrangement for evacuating liquid; and a collector, such as a drip tray, reservoir or tank, for collecting liquid evacuated by the support device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A machine for preparing liquid food or beverage includes: a liquid food or beverage module (2) having a liquid or beverage outlet (95); a support device (6) that is located under the beverage outlet and that has an arrangement for evacuating liquid; and a collector (6a), such as drip tray, for collecting liquid evacuated by the support device. The support device (6) comprises a dispensing area (61) on or above which a recipient (30, 31) may be placed for collecting a liquid food or beverage dispensed from the outlet. The support device further comprises a non-dispensing area (62) adjacent to the dispensing area, the non-dispensing area being arranged to support recipients upon use and for evacuating liquid to the collector.