Drinks preparation machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drinks preparation machines lack user-friendly adjustment capabilities for drink quantities during the preparation process, often requiring precise timing and limiting the ability to increase or decrease the quantity, leading to user errors and stress due to the use of touchscreens.

Innovation Solution

A drinks preparation machine equipped with a physical operating element, such as a rotary wheel or slide lever, allows users to adjust the remaining drink quantity in real-time before and during the preparation process, enabling both increase and decrease options, with a display device providing real-time graphical representation of the adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a touchscreen is used for adjusting drink quantity during preparation, then the interface is intuitive and precise, but the processing time is too long and users make errors under time pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitiveness of interfaceVSAvoidprocessing time of input

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the touchscreen (electronic/optical system) with a physical operating element (mechanical system) for quantity adjustment during preparation. This mechanical element provides immediate tactile feedback and faster response time, eliminating the processing delay inherent in touchscreen systems while maintaining ease of use through intuitive physical interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a touchscreen is used for quantity adjustment, then precise input is possible, but users experience stress and make errors due to lack of time during preparation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of quantity inputVSAvoiduser error rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the touchscreen with a mechanical operating element that provides immediate tactile feedback, allowing users to make precise adjustments without the time pressure that causes errors. The mechanical system's instantaneous response eliminates the delay between user action and system recognition, thereby improving reliability during time-critical preparation phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements immediate visual feedback through the display device that shows the adjusted quantity in real-time as the user operates the physical element. This continuous feedback loop allows users to verify their input immediately, preventing errors before the preparation completes, thereby enhancing reliability while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If only termination of preparation is possible during the process, then the system is simple to operate, but the user cannot increase or adjust the quantity beyond the initial setting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of operationVSAvoidadjustability of drinks quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the drink quantity parameter dynamic by allowing adjustments during the preparation process itself, rather than fixing it beforehand. The physical operating element enables users to modify the quantity setting in real-time, and the system dynamically adapts the preparation parameters accordingly, providing both simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables changes to the drink quantity parameter during the preparation process. The physical operating element allows users to adjust the quantity setting, and the system responds by modifying the preparation parameters in real-time, thereby achieving versatility without sacrificing operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system allows quantity adjustment during preparation, then user flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of quantity adjustmentVSAvoidcomplexity of control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a simple mechanical operating element instead of a complex electronic interface for quantity adjustment. This mechanical approach reduces control system complexity while maintaining flexibility, as the physical element directly interfaces with the control system without requiring complex signal processing or software interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates the quantity adjustment function into the existing preparation control system, allowing the same physical operating element to serve multiple functions: selecting drink type, adjusting quantity, and confirming preparation. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate dedicated controls for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11253099B2Drinks preparation machine

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 QBO COFFEE GMBH

AI summary

A drinks preparation machine includes a preparation module for preparing a brewed drink from water and from an extraction material or extract and further includes a display device. The machine is configured to permit a user to make the setting of a first drinks quantity before a start of the drinks preparation, and after the start, during the drinks preparation, to permit the adjustment of a remaining drinks quantity, which is different from zero, via the operating element.