Collecting container for collecting insoluble material used during the preparation of beverages, and infusion device comprising such a collecting container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Infusion devices face challenges in efficiently removing and compressing insoluble materials like coffee powder or tea leaves, leading to laborious cleaning and potential blockages, especially when large amounts are used, causing uncontrolled water movements and spills.

Innovation Solution

A collecting container with a central projection and coupling elements that create a defined distance between the container edge and piston filter arrangement, allowing for easy coupling with reduced force and preventing excessive compression, thereby minimizing water movement and spills.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the press filter is pressed down to compress a large amount of insoluble material, then the coupling between the collecting container and piston filter arrangement is achieved, but excessive force compresses the material blocking the press filter, causing water to flow through the contact surface and create wave-like movements that may spill out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling reliabilityVSAvoidoperational comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a collecting container that collects insoluble material before the pressing operation begins. This preliminary collection prevents material from blocking the press filter during compression, allowing the press filter to be pressed down without excessive force while still achieving reliable coupling between the collecting container and piston filter arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system is divided into separate functional components: the collecting container that gathers insoluble material, the press filter that separates liquid from solids, and the piston filter arrangement that provides the pressing force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without interfering with others, preventing water from flowing through the contact surface during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If a relatively large amount of insoluble material is used, then the container capacity is sufficient, but the material must be compressed to such an extent that a relatively large force is necessary, blocking the press filter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsoluble material capacityVSAvoidpressing force
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The collecting container is positioned to receive and collect insoluble material before the pressing operation. This preliminary collection allows a relatively large amount of material to be accommodated in the container without requiring excessive compression force, as the material is already concentrated in the designated collection area rather than being distributed throughout the entire container volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The collecting container acts as an intermediary structure between the insoluble material and the press filter. It collects and concentrates the material in a controlled manner, facilitating subsequent pressing operations with reduced force requirements while maintaining the ability to handle large quantities of material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the press filter is slightly biased towards the container, then the coupling is stable, but a correspondingly strong force must be applied to the water to overcome the contact surface, making operation uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling stabilityVSAvoidoperational comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collecting container is introduced into the container before the insoluble material and water, establishing a predetermined coupling interface. This preliminary positioning ensures stable coupling between the collecting container and piston filter arrangement without requiring excessive force to overcome water resistance during the pressing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism is extracted from the main pressing operation by using a separate collecting container that couples to the piston filter arrangement. This separation allows the coupling stability to be maintained independently from the pressing force, improving operational comfort by reducing the force needed to maintain coupling during pressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution enables effortless coupling of the collecting container with the piston filter arrangement, reducing the force required and preventing uncontrolled water movements and spills, making the infusion process more comfortable and safer.

Implementation Method 1

The press filter is pressed towards the closed end using the piston rod. As a result, the extracted coffee powder or tea leaves are separated from the coffee or tea and compressed in the area of the closed end.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

A piston filter arrangement is then introduced into the container, which comprises a piston rod and a press filter attached to the piston rod. The press filter has a shape corresponding to the cross section of the container, so that the press filter ends laterally with the container.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3373778B1Collecting container for collecting insoluble material used during the preparation of beverages, and infusion device comprising such a collecting container
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 PI-DESIGN AG
  • EP3373778B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3373778B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3373778B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a collecting container (12) for collecting insoluble material (37) which is used during the preparation of beverages by means of an infusion device (10). The infusion device (10) comprises a container (20) with an open end (22) and a closed end (24) for receiving the beverage and the insoluble material (37), and the infusion device comprises a plunger/filter assembly (26) which can be introduced into the container (20) via the open end (22) and can be moved towards the closed end (24). The collecting container (12) can be introduced into the container (20) and has an opening (16), which is surrounded by an edge (18), and a first coupling element (40), which can be coupled to a second coupling element (42) of the plunger/filter assembly (26) such that in the coupled state, a spacing (D) is formed between the edge (18) of the collecting container (12) and the plunger/filter assembly (26). The invention further relates to an infusion device (10) comprising such a collecting container (12).