Horizontal unit for making beverages using capsules containing powdered food substances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal units for making beverages from capsules suffer from structural instability due to construction tolerances and repeated stresses, leading to potential seal failure at the extraction chamber over time.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal unit design with a fixed support for the crank during capsule extraction, which prevents unwanted movements and eliminates play between the crank, connecting rod, and mobile part, ensuring lasting optimum sealing of the extraction chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a crank and connecting rod mechanism is used for reciprocal movement of the two parts, then the unit can be operated manually or motor-driven with simple construction, but structural instability develops over time due to construction tolerances and repeated stresses, leading to seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a fixed part and a mobile part that can be independently positioned and secured. The mobile part is retained by retaining means that can be switched between retention and release configurations, allowing the sealing interface to be segmented and independently controlled for optimal sealing without compromising the simplicity of the overall mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If rotary joints and connecting rods are used in the movement means, then the mechanism can achieve the required motion, but play develops between parts over time due to construction tolerances and repeated stresses, compromising the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile part is equipped with retaining means that automatically switch to the retention configuration when the unit closes, securing the mobile part against the fixed part without requiring additional active components. This self-securing mechanism compensates for play in the rotary joints and connecting rod, maintaining structural stability while preserving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the crank rotates beyond the aligned position to angle on the opposite side, then accidental opening due to pressure increase is avoided, but the sealing pressure on the gaskets is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining means are designed to switch to the retention configuration before the crank reaches the position that would reduce sealing pressure. This preliminary action of securing the mobile part ensures that the sealing interface is firmly established before pressure increases during operation, preventing accidental opening while maintaining adequate sealing force throughout the extraction process.
Data Source
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AI summary
A horizontal unit for making beverages using capsules containing powdered food substances comprises a first part (4) and a second part (6) which are mobile between an operating position in which they form an extraction chamber (8) for a capsule (2), and a capsule (2) insertion position in which they are distanced, and movement means (17) for reciprocal movement of the two parts (4), (6) comprising a connecting rod (21) - crank (19) mechanism connected to the mobile part (4), (6). In the operating position the crank (19) rests on a part of the unit supporting structure (3). The crank (19) also comprises at least a first resting portion (56) and/or a second resting portion (58) which in the unit closed position act in contact respectively against at least a first should (57) and/or a second shoulder (59) formed by the supporting structure (3), said shoulders being positioned respectively in such a way as to prevent movements of the crank (19) towards the shaft parallel with the axial line and/or movements of the crank (19) transversally to the plane in which it rotates.