Filter Holder Cam Mechanism for Valve Position Control During Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter holders for beverage-producing machines, such as espresso machines, fail to maintain the valve stopper in an open position consistently after reaching brewing pressure, leading to inefficient coffee extraction and potential over-extraction during the brewing cycle.
Innovation Solution
A filter holder design featuring a cam mechanism that moves from a first position preventing closure to a second position allowing closure of the valve stopper, utilizing a resilient member and a slider activated by the hot water dispensing unit, ensuring the valve stopper remains open once sufficient brewing pressure is achieved, and prevents closure until the brewing cycle ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resilient member biases the valve stopper towards a closed position, then the valve can be reliably closed before brewing, but the valve stopper cannot remain consistently open after reaching brewing pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The cam is designed to change position dynamically during the brewing process. Initially, the cam is in a first position where its profile prevents closure movement of the valve stopper, allowing it to remain open for coffee extraction. Later, the cam transitions to a second position where its profile allows the valve stopper to close, enabling controlled termination of the brewing cycle. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining open position stability and enabling reliable closure.
2Productivity
If the valve stopper is resiliently biased to close automatically, then brewing can be terminated, but premature closure occurs before sufficient brewing pressure is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by positioning the cam in its first position before brewing begins, where the cam profile proactively prevents closure movement of the valve stopper. This preliminary positioning ensures that the valve remains open during the entire brewing process, allowing sufficient brewing pressure to be achieved without premature closure. The cam only transitions to allow closure after the brewing cycle is complete.
3Ease of operation
If a cam mechanism is added to control valve stopper position, then valve position control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is designed to operate automatically without requiring user intervention. The cam transitions between its first and second positions based on the brewing process state, and the slider moves autonomously to position the cam appropriately. This self-service operation maintains ease of use while providing sophisticated valve position control, as the system manages its own complexity internally without adding operational steps for the user.
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
Ensures consistent coffee extraction by maintaining the valve open during brewing and preventing premature closure, improving the efficiency and control of the brewing process without requiring user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The cam is resiliently biased towards the first position by a suitable resilient member, for example a spring, such as a torsion spring
Implementation Method 2
The cam is retained in the second position by the friction force between the cam and the pivoting arm which supports the valve stopper
Implementation Method 3
the valve stopper being supported by a pivoting arm and resiliently biased towards a closed position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filter holder comprising a filter housing having a bottom and a dispensing duct or aperture through said bottom. A valve with a valve stopper is arranged for selectively opening and closing the dispensing duct or aperture, the valve stopper being supported by a pivoting arm and resiliently biased towards a closed position. The valve stopper is closed when the filter holder is attached to a hot-water dispensing unit of a beverage producing machine, so that hot pressurized water will soak a beverage ingredient, for instance coffee powder, loaded in the filter cup. The valve is calibrated so that it will open once a certain pressure in the filter cup has been achieved. Once opened, the valve stopper will remain open irrespective of the pressure inside the filter cup, by means of the arrangement described here below. The filter holder further comprises a cam located between the bottom of the filter housing and the pivoting arm which supports the valve stopper. The cam has a cam profile co-acting with the pivoting arm. The cam is movable, preferably around a pivoting or hinge axis to selectively take different positions. More particularly, the cam has at least a first position wherein the cam profile prevents closing movement of the valve stopper and a second position wherein the cam profile allows closing movement of the valve stopper. The cam is resiliently biased towards the first position by a suitable resilient member, for example a spring, such as a torsion spring. Furthermore, the filter holder comprises a slider which co-acts with the cam to move the cam from the first position towards the second position against the resilient action applied on the cam. The slider is advantageously resiliently biased in an inactive position and is forced to move towards an active position by direct or indirect co-action with an element of a water dispensing unit whereto the filter holder is attached. The slider is configured and arranged so that during said movement from the inactive position to the active position, the slide pushes the cam towards the second position, i.e. the cam position which allows closing of the valve stopper. The resilient force applied on the slider is overcome by the co-action of the slider with the above mentioned stationary element. Once the co-action with the stationary element ceases, the slider is resiliently returned to the inactive position.