Fully automatic coffee machine with motorized multi-way valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fully automatic coffee machines face challenges in achieving precise rotational-angle adjustment of ceramic disc valves, leading to unreliable and imprecise alignment of openings, which affects uniform flow quantities and can result in interfering flow noises.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven multi-way valve with a disc carrier and adjustable ceramic discs, utilizing a detection unit with markers and an initialization identifier, featuring a step-changing cam surface to facilitate precise positioning and control signal changes, allowing for easy and precise adjustment of the valve's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional detection methods are used for valve positioning, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision and reliability of valve alignment are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with an optical detection system. A detection unit with a detection element (such as a photoelectric sensor) detects the position of the adjustment element by sensing markers on its periphery, substituting mechanical alignment methods with optical field-based detection to achieve higher precision without proportionally increasing mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses markers as simplified copies or representations of the adjustment element's position. Instead of detecting the entire complex adjustment mechanism, the system detects simple geometric markers (such as reflective markers or colored rings) that are easier to sense and process, thereby improving measurement precision while keeping the detection system relatively simple
2Manufacturing precision
If tolerance dependency is reduced for precise valve alignment, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical tolerance-based alignment with optical detection and electronic control. The detection unit accurately senses the marker positions on the adjustment element, and the control unit processes this information to determine precise angular positions, replacing reliance on mechanical tolerances with field-based detection that is less sensitive to manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for positioning from physical dimensional tolerances to optical detection parameters. By using markers with specific geometric or optical characteristics (such as reflectivity, color, or shape) that are detected by the detection unit, the system transitions from mechanical parameter control to optical parameter control, improving precision while reducing tolerance stringency
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 enables precise and cost-effective adjustment of the ceramic disc valve, reducing the dependency on tolerance and improving the alignment of openings, ensuring reliable and uniform flow quantities while simplifying the start of the electric motor, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of the coffee machine.
Implementation Method 1
a detection unit (23) which interacts with the markers (6), and with the initialization identifier (7)... the detection unit (23) interacts with the working area of the marker (6) or the initialization identifier (7)... the detection unit signals detected markers (6), and detected the initialization identifier (7) to the control device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Hot beverages machine, in particular fully automatic coffee machine for domestic purposes, with a heating device, with a brewing chamber, with a hot water discharge, and with a motor driven multi-way valve, with a driven adjustment element, with a plurality of markers (6) which are distributed around the periphery of the adjustment element(1), with an initialization identifier (7) on the adjustment element (1) which differs therefrom, with a control device for controlling the multi-way valve, with a detection unit (23) which interacts with the markers (6) and signals detection of the markers (6) to the control device, and a working area of at least one of the markers (6) has a cam shape profile, with a step changing cam surface, resulting in a step change of the control signal.