Height-Adjustable Espresso Outlet With Internal Cover Strips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Beverage preparation machines, particularly espresso machines, face issues with dirt particles like coffee residues entering the interior through uncovered areas of the opening in the front wall during height adjustment of the beverage outlet unit, compromising cleanliness and requiring complex designs to maintain adjustability and prevent contamination.

Innovation Solution

A compact height-adjustable beverage outlet unit with internal cover strips that adjust with the unit's height, ensuring complete coverage of the opening without limiting adjustability, using a combination of spring tensioned cover strips and deflection elements to maintain unobstructed passage for the beverage supply line and connecting members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the beverage outlet unit is made compact with a large height adjustment path, then the adjustment range is improved, but the opening in the front wall becomes uncovered allowing dirt particles to enter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment rangeVSAvoiddirt particle entry

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing cover strips on the outside of the front wall (which would limit adjustment range), the patent places them on the inside of the front wall. This inverted approach allows the cover strips to follow the beverage outlet unit's movement while maintaining complete coverage of the opening throughout the entire adjustment path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover strips are designed to be flexible and dynamically adjustable, following the movement of the beverage outlet unit. They are connected to the beverage outlet unit or its carriage and can deflect to accommodate height adjustments, maintaining coverage without limiting the adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cover strips are placed on the outside of the front wall to prevent dirt entry, then cleanliness is improved, but the height adjustment path is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirt particle preventionVSAvoidheight adjustment path

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing cover strips on the inside of the front wall rather than the outside. This allows the cover strips to move with the beverage outlet unit throughout the entire adjustment path while maintaining coverage, eliminating the limitation on adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover strips are arranged in multiple sections that can deflect and bend to accommodate the height adjustment movement. This multi-dimensional flexibility allows the cover strips to maintain coverage while following the beverage outlet unit's vertical movement throughout the full adjustment path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the beverage outlet unit is made height-adjustable, then adaptability is improved, but uncovered areas of the opening remain open to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecup height compatibilityVSAvoidprotection against contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover strips are dynamically connected to the beverage outlet unit and its carriage, allowing them to move vertically together. This dynamic connection ensures that the cover strips continuously cover the opening throughout the entire height adjustment range, maintaining protection against contamination while enabling full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover strips are divided into multiple sections (upper cover strip section, lower cover strip section) that can deflect independently. This segmentation allows different parts of the cover strip to accommodate the movement and shape changes required during height adjustment while maintaining continuous coverage of the opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Prevents dirt particles from entering the machine while maintaining a large height adjustment range and compact design, ensuring cleanliness and ease of maintenance by using flexible and adjustable cover strips that deflect to accommodate the beverage supply line and inlet device.

Implementation Method 1

the cover strip (8) being tensioned by a spring (23)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring tension: Spring

Implementation Method 2

at least two deflection sections of the cover strip (8), in particular a section of the opening that is covered on the outside by the beverage outlet unit (6), to be deflected into a space in the machine housing (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical deflection:

Data Source

PatentEP2245970B1Beverage making machine, in particular espresso machine, with a height-adjustable drink outlet unit

Publication Date: 2011.07.06 EUGSTER FRISMAG AG

Figure 1
Figure 2~4

AI summary

The beverage making machine has a cover strip (8) arranged a machine hosing (2) behind an aperture (4). A cover strip covers sections (41,42) of the aperture, which is uncovered outside by a beverage outlet unit (6) on an inner surface of a machine housing front wall (3) with a cover strip section. A deflecting section of a cover strip is deflected away by the inner surface of the machine housing front wall.