Descaling Pod With Absorbent Release Control for Beverage Needles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pod-type beverage machine cleaning methods, including using cleaning solutions in the water reservoir or pods with chemical cleaners, are inadequate as they fail to reach all parts of the machine effectively and often flush out too quickly, compromising convenience and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A descaling pod with a container, absorbent material, and descaler is introduced, where the descaler dissolves in water and is absorbed by the material, slowing its release to effectively clean the needles over an extended period, ensuring thorough descaling and cleaning of the beverage machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning solution is added to the water reservoir or provided in pods, then cleaning function is provided, but the cleaning solution fails to reach all parts of the brewing machine effectively and flushes out too quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an absorbent material as an intermediary between the cleaning solution and the brewing machine components. This absorbent material absorbs and retains the cleaning solution, allowing it to be released gradually over time to effectively clean all parts of the machine including needles and flow passages, preventing the solution from flushing out too quickly
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning solution is pre-loaded into pods or containers that are placed in the brewing machine before operation. The absorbent material is pre-positioned to receive and retain the cleaning solution, ensuring that the cleaning action occurs at the appropriate time and location within the brewing cycle
2Reliability
If manual cleaning with separate cleaning ingredients is performed, then cleaning function is provided, but convenience is reduced and flushing is required to remove residual harmful products
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing machine is designed to automatically perform cleaning functions by integrating cleaning pods or containers that contain pre-measured cleaning solutions and absorbent materials. The system self-regulates the cleaning process through the absorbent material's retention and gradual release properties, eliminating the need for manual intervention and subsequent flushing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the cleaning solution, absorbent material, pod/container, and brewing machine components work together as a unified cleaning system. This merging eliminates the need for separate cleaning steps, manual application of cleaning ingredients, and post-cleaning flushing operations
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 provides a more comprehensive and prolonged cleaning action, improving the effectiveness of descaling and cleaning the beverage machine's needles, while being safe and convenient, with the added benefit of using food-safe ingredients and reducing environmental impact with a dry powder descaler.
Implementation Method 1
the descaler dissolves in water to form a descaling solution
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of the descaling solution is absorbed by the absorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
A device for descaling flow passages of a pod-type beverage machine, comprising: a container having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall defining an opening at a top of the container, wherein the container is configured to be received by the beverage machine; a dry, liquid-absorbing material disposed within the container adjacent to the bottom wall, and configured to retard a flow of liquid therethrough; a dry powder descaler disposed within the container, wherein at least a portion of the dry powder descaler is disposed on a surface of the absorbing material opposite the bottom wall; and a cover over the opening at the top of the container and configured to seal the liquid-absorbing material and the dry powder descaler in the container.