Emulsification device and beverage machine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emulsification devices in beverage machines can only produce milk foam of a single type, failing to meet user demands for beverage diversity.
Innovation Solution
An emulsification device with a Venturi structure featuring two mixing chambers, each connected to separate steam and liquid channels, allowing for the production of milk foam at different temperatures through selective steam channel communication, controlled by a switching apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single mixing chamber is used, then the device structure is simple, but the beverage diversity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single mixing chamber is divided into a first mixing chamber and a second mixing chamber, each capable of producing milk foam with different temperatures. This segmentation allows the device to offer multiple beverage types while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and beverage diversity.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulsification device is designed with multi-functionality by enabling both mixing chambers to perform the same emulsification function but with different temperature parameters. This allows a single device to produce multiple types of beverages (hot and cold milk foam beverages), achieving versatility without requiring entirely separate devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mixing chambers with different temperatures are added, then beverage diversity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second mixing chambers are nested within the same emulsification device housing, sharing common structural elements and mounting mechanisms. This nesting approach allows multiple functional chambers to coexist in a compact arrangement, reducing the overall device complexity increase that would normally result from adding multiple chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges multiple functional chambers into a single integrated emulsification device, sharing common components such as the housing, control systems, and mounting structures. This combining approach reduces the cumulative complexity that would arise from completely separate single-chamber devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different temperature milk foams are produced, then beverage diversity is achieved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device prepares both hot and cold milk foam by introducing steam and air simultaneously into both mixing chambers during the emulsification process. This preliminary action of pre-heating and pre-chilling the milk foam during mixing eliminates the need for subsequent separate heating or cooling steps, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining beverage diversity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the temperature parameter of the milk foam during the emulsification process itself by controlling steam introduction into different chambers. By achieving temperature differentiation during the primary mixing phase rather than through secondary heating/cooling processes, the device reduces energy consumption while still providing diverse beverage temperature options.
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 the production of milk foam with varying temperatures, enhancing beverage diversity by allowing for the creation of different types of beverages.
Implementation Method 1
A principle of an existing emulsification device is generally that steam enters a mixing chamber from a steam channel, a negative pressure is formed in the mixing chamber, which drives milk to flow into the mixing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed are an emulsification device and a beverage machine having the same. The emulsification device includes a Venturi structure and a switching apparatus. The Venturi structure includes a first mixing chamber and a second mixing chamber. In a case that a first steam channel is communicated with a steam source, steam flows through the first steam channel into the first mixing chamber to produce a mixed fluid with a first temperature based on a Venturi effect; and in a case that a second steam channel is communicated with the steam source, steam flows through the second steam channel into the second mixing chamber to produce a mixed fluid with a second temperature based on the Venturi effect, and the first temperature is not equal to the second temperature Different types of beverages may be obtained by using milk foam with different temperatures.