Flexible Coffee Grounds Duct for Uniform Infusion Chamber Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic beverage dispensers using ground coffee often result in uneven distribution of coffee grounds, leading to suboptimal packing and flavor extraction during the brewing process.
Innovation Solution
A flexible and elastic end part is added to the supply duct, extending from a rest position to a retracted position, allowing for improved distribution of coffee grounds into the infusion chamber, ensuring a more uniform packing and enhanced flavor extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid supply duct is used to deliver ground coffee, then the structure is simple and stable, but the distribution of coffee grounds is uneven and packing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supply duct transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible structure, changing the physical parameter of stiffness. This flexibility allows the duct to adapt its shape during operation, enabling centered discharge of coffee grounds while maintaining structural simplicity. The flexible material property resolves the contradiction by allowing form adaptation without adding mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply duct is designed to be movable and adaptable rather than fixed and rigid. The flexible duct can dynamically adjust its position and shape based on operational requirements, enabling it to extend to the center for discharge and retract for tamping head passage. This dynamic behavior improves distribution uniformity without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If the supply duct is extended to improve ground distribution, then the distribution quality improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supply duct utilizes a flexible shell structure that can extend and retract as needed. This flexible extension allows the duct to reach the center of the brewing chamber for optimal ground distribution without permanently increasing the device's footprint. The flexible nature enables the extension to be compact when not in use, resolving the contradiction between extension capability and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible supply duct can be nested or retracted into a compact configuration within the device when not in use. This nesting capability allows the duct to extend to the required length during operation for improved ground distribution, then retract to minimize the overall device volume, effectively resolving the contradiction between functional extension and compact size.
3Manufacturing precision
If a flexible end part is added to the supply duct, then the ground distribution and packing improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end part of the supply duct changes from a rigid material to a flexible material, fundamentally altering the physical parameter of stiffness. This material parameter change enables the duct to flex and adapt its shape for centered ground discharge and uniform packing, while the simplicity of using a flexible material rather than a complex mechanical mechanism actually reduces overall device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If the supply duct remains extended for ground discharge, then the distribution is improved, but it obstructs the passage of the tamping head
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible end part of the supply duct is designed to be dynamic, extending to the center for ground discharge during the filling phase, then retracting when the tamping head needs to pass. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the duct to occupy the centered position only when needed for discharge, and move out of the way during tamping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible end part undergoes periodic extension and retraction cycles synchronized with the brewing process. It extends to the center during ground discharge, retracts to allow tamping head passage, then extends again for the next discharge cycle. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by ensuring the centered position is occupied only during the brief discharge moment, not during tamping operations.
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
This solution increases the quantity of coffee grounds that can be introduced and improves the infusion process, resulting in better taste and flavor extraction, while also allowing for self-cleaning and reduced device size.
Implementation Method 1
the end part is made of a flexible and elastic material, for example plastic, metal or made of elastomer, able to be bent without breaking under the action of a force and to regain its initial shape at rest
Implementation Method 2
the end part is arranged to return to the rest position after releasing the thrust force. Advantageously again, the end part is arranged to return to the rest position by elastic return
Implementation Method 3
the ejection member is arranged to exert a pushing force on the end part of the duct to erase it. The ejection member thus has a dual role: it not only ensures the evacuation of the cake of marc at the end of the infusion cycle but also exerts a pushing force on the end part of the duct to erase it
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an automatic dispenser for beverages infused using grounds, comprising an infusion chamber (2) having an outlet (21) for introducing grounds; a supply duct (12) for supplying the grounds to the outlet (21) of the infusion chamber (2); a compacting head (4) that is able to move between a rest position and a compacting position inside the chamber (2). According to the invention, the supply duct (12) is extended by an end part (14) that is able to move between a rest position in which the end part extends the supply duct (12) as far as the top of the outlet (21) of the infusion chamber (2) and a retracted position in which the top of the outlet (21) of the infusion chamber (2) is freed for the passage of the compacting head (4). Figure