Flexible Drop Stop Beverage Outlet for Residue Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines face challenges in effectively managing the flow of beverages to prevent undesired dripping of residues into the dispensing area after or between dispensing processes, often requiring complex drop collectors and motorized actuations.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine with a modular design that includes a processing module with a movable drop collector, controlled by a motor, which can divert the beverage flow between a dispensing position and a collecting position, allowing for independent activation of the liquid driver and motor, optimizing liquid circulation based on user instructions and machine configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motorized drop collector is used to divert beverage flow, then beverage residue management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drop collector is designed to be movable between different positions (collecting position and dispensing position) rather than fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its function based on operational needs, enabling effective residue management while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The drop collector serves multiple functions: it collects beverage residues during dispensing operations and can be repositioned to allow normal beverage flow. This multi-functionality is achieved through the movable design that responds to pump activation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
2Productivity
If independent activation of liquid driver and motor is implemented, then beverage dispensing efficiency is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from pump activation status to automatically control the motor that moves the drop collector. When the pump is activated, the drop collector is positioned in the collecting position; when the pump is inactive, it returns to the dispensing position. This feedback-based automatic control enables independent activation of the liquid driver and motor while maintaining efficient beverage dispensing through coordinated response to operational conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 3~4a
Figure 5~5a
AI summary
A machine for dispensing a beverage (5) includes a beverage processing module (2) that has an outlet (20). The module (2) further has a first part (25) and a second part (26) that can be relatively moved between: a transfer configuration for introducing a beverage ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25,26) and/or removing the ingredient from therebetween; and a processing configuration for forming said beverage (5) from said ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26). The machine also includes: - a liquid driver (31) for driving a liquid along a liquid line (30) from a liquid source (32) via the processing module (2) to the outlet (20); - a drop collector (1) having a beverage guide (10) and a motor (11) for moving the guide (10) relatively to the outlet (20) into either a dispensing position for dispensing beverage (5) from the outlet (20) into a dispensing area (6) or a collecting position for dispensing residual beverage (5' ) from the outlet (20) into a service area ( 7 ); - a control unit (3) for controlling the liquid driver (31) and the motor ( 11, 11a, lib); and - a user-interface (3' ) for providing user-instructions to the control unit (3). The module (2) comprises a module actuator (21) for driving the first and second parts (25,26) from the transfer configuration to the processing configuration and vice- versa, the actuator (21) being independent of the motor (11). The control unit (3) is arranged to activate the liquid driver (31) and the motor (11) upon receiving a user-instruction from the user-interface (32) independently of a presence or an absence of a receptacle (60) in the dispensing area (6).