Infuser unit for coffee machine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infuser units for coffee machines often have a maximum stroke limit for the ejection piston that is insufficient for correct loading and ejection of coffee doses, leading to operational inefficiencies and excessive structural complexity.
Innovation Solution
An infuser unit design that incorporates an oscillating rocker and a connecting rod to amplify the movement of the ejection piston, allowing for increased volumetric capacity without expanding the overall dimensions, using a gear reducer and cam mechanisms to facilitate roto-translational movement and ensure correct coffee dose handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the infusion chamber depth is increased to house a larger coffee dose, then the coffee dose capacity is improved, but the ejection piston stroke becomes insufficient for correct loading and ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the ejection piston stroke variable through a rocking motion mechanism. The piston transitions from a simple linear reciprocating motion to a dynamic rocking motion that amplifies the effective stroke length, enabling the piston to correctly eject larger coffee doses from the deeper infusion chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotational dimension to the ejection piston motion through the rocking mechanism. By converting the purely linear reciprocating motion into a combination of linear and rotational motion, the system amplifies the effective stroke length without increasing the physical piston dimensions, thereby solving the insufficient stroke problem for deeper chambers.
2Quantity of substance
If mechanisms are added to move the ejection piston for deeper chambers, then the coffee dose handling capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rocking mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it amplifies the ejection piston stroke, enables correct loading of larger coffee doses, and maintains structural integration with the existing infusion cylinder. This multi-functionality improves coffee dose handling capability without adding excessive complexity, as the same mechanism achieves multiple objectives.
3Reliability
If the ejection piston stroke is extended for deeper chambers, then the loading and ejection performance is improved, but the overall structural dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic rocking motion to achieve an extended effective stroke length without proportionally increasing the physical dimensions of the ejection piston assembly. The rocking mechanism leverages rotational leverage to amplify the linear displacement, maintaining compact overall dimensions while improving loading and ejection performance for deeper chambers.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The infuser unit (1) for a coffee machine, comprises a closing piston (3), an infusion cylinder (2) subjectable to a reversible roto-translational stroke between a position for loading a dose of coffee (30), wherein it is disengaged from the closing piston (3) and has its axis inclined relative to the closing piston (3), and an infusion position, wherein it is engaged with the closing piston (3) and has its axis in the direction of the axis of the closing piston (3), an ejection piston (5) for ejecting the spent dose of coffee grounds (30), which is slidable inside the infusion cylinder (2) in the direction of the axis of the infusion cylinder (2) between a retracted position and a projecting position for ejecting the spent dose of coffee grounds (30), and an oscillating rocker (32) for moving said ejection piston (5), means for amplifying the movement of said ejection piston (5) also being provided, connecting said ejection piston (5) to said oscillating rocker (32).