Removable Double-Walled Coffee Filter for Encrustation Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machine filters face issues with rapid decline in functionality due to impurities and encrustations forming between the bottom wall and filtering wall, making cleaning complex and potentially damaging, especially at the small dispensing hole, leading to inconsistent efficiency and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine filter with a removably coupled filtering wall and a seal made of elastomeric material, such as food-grade silicone, allowing for easy disassembly and cleaning, and featuring a bowl-shaped seal that covers the bottom wall to prevent dirt accumulation and a coupling member with a protrusion for stable positioning, enabling effective removal of encrustations without damaging the dispensing hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the filtering wall is non-removably fixed to the cup-shaped body, then the filter structure is simpler, but impurities and encrustations form rapidly in the gap between the bottom wall and filtering wall, causing rapid decline in functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into separable components: the cup-shaped body, the filtering wall, and the seal are designed as distinct removable parts. This segmentation allows each component to be independently cleaned and maintained, preventing encrustation buildup in gaps while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the filtering wall is removably coupled to the cup-shaped body to prevent encrustation, then filter functionality is maintained, but the cleaning of the dispensing hole becomes complex and may require mechanical tools
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is extracted as a separate removable component that contains the dispensing hole. This extraction allows the dispensing hole to be accessed and cleaned independently from the filtering wall and cup-shaped body, simplifying maintenance operations while ensuring the filtering wall remains securely positioned during use.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical tools are used to free the dispensing hole from encrustations, then the hole is cleaned effectively, but the hole may be damaged, causing loss of filter functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed as a replaceable component with a serviceable life. When the dispensing hole becomes damaged or heavily encrusted, the entire seal can be removed and replaced rather than attempting risky repairs, ensuring continuous filter functionality without damaging the permanent cup-shaped body structure.
4Ease of repair
If the seal is placed on the bottom wall with a dispensing hole, then encrustations can be removed without damaging the hole, but the seal must be securely positioned to prevent coffee powder passage
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed with differentiated functional zones: a sealing surface with specific geometric features (such as a recess or groove) that locally provides secure positioning against the bottom wall, and a separate region containing the dispensing hole that allows controlled beverage flow. This local quality differentiation ensures both secure positioning and effective dispensing.
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
Simplifies filter maintenance and cleaning operations, prevents damage to the dispensing hole during encrustation removal, and allows for easy replacement of the seal to restore functionality, ensuring long-lasting filter efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the seal is made of elastomeric material making it deformable and allowing such actions without the risk of damaging the hole
Data Source
AI summary
A double-walled filter for a coffee machine with improved dispensing including a cup-shaped body for containing coffee powder, having at least a bottom wall having an opening; a filtering wall placed in the cup-shaped body upstream of the opening and removably associated with the cup-shaped body; a seal placed at least between one edge of the filtering wall and the cup-shaped body, wherein said seal is placed on said bottom wall and has a dispensing hole for dispensing a beverage at said opening.