Filter Basket Assembly for Mess-Free Single-Serve Coffee Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coffee makers often create household messes when brewed coffee is dispensed into a carafe that is not in place, and users desire the ability to dispense coffee into a cup or mug instead of a carafe.
Innovation Solution
A coffee maker with a filter basket assembly that includes a rotating selection dial and a pause valve actuator, allowing for single serve coffee discharge when the carafe is not present, and automatically reverting to carafe mode when a carafe is inserted, using a combination of mechanical and optional electrical components to control coffee dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the coffee maker is designed to dispense coffee only when a carafe is in place, then mess prevention is improved, but the ability to dispense into a cup or mug is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The coffee maker employs a dynamic detection system that identifies whether a carafe or a cup/mug is present on the warming plate. The system automatically adjusts its dispensing behavior based on this detection: when a carafe is detected, it prevents dispensing to avoid mess; when a cup or mug is detected, it enables single-serve dispensing. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's response flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The coffee maker performs self-detection of the container type through sensors that monitor the warming plate's status. The system automatically determines whether to enable or disable single-serve mode without requiring manual user input, thereby resolving the contradiction between mess prevention and dispensing flexibility through autonomous self-service functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the coffee maker allows single serve dispensing when no carafe is present, then dispensing flexibility is improved, but the risk of household mess increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coffee maker incorporates a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor the warming plate to detect the presence and type of container. Based on this feedback, the control system dynamically enables or disables single-serve dispensing functionality. This feedback loop ensures that dispensing flexibility is provided only when appropriate (when a cup or mug is detected), thereby preventing household mess while maintaining adaptability.
3Extent of automation
If a carafe detection mechanism is implemented, then automatic mode switching is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical detection mechanisms with simpler sensor-based systems. Instead of using mechanical switches or complex mechanical linkages to detect carafe presence, the invention employs sensors (such as weight sensors, capacitive sensors, or optical sensors) that can detect the presence and type of container through non-mechanical means. This substitution maintains automatic mode switching capability while significantly reducing device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)
Figure 1(b)
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AI summary
A coffee maker comprises a filter basket assembly that enables two coffee dispensing modes. The assembly comprises a filter basket, an actuator that cooperates with a carafe and a motor driven valve. The actuator stops coffee from dispensing when the carafe is removed, but can be defeated by the user to dispense into a cup or mug when the carafe is absent.