Cleaning dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage machines, particularly those for hot beverages, require frequent cleaning processes, and existing solutions for automatic cleaning and liquid detergent management are not user-friendly or efficient, leading to potential exposure risks and design challenges.
Innovation Solution
A beverage machine with an interchangeable liquid cleaning container and dosing device that includes a dosing pump, line coupling, and drive coupling, allowing for a closed system that simplifies refilling and reduces user interaction with cleaning agents, while enabling continuous detergent supply and efficient drive mechanism integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an interchangeable liquid cleaning container with integrated dosing pump is used, then user safety and ease of operation are improved by avoiding direct contact with cleaning agents, but device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid cleaning agent dosing device is divided into an interchangeable container portion that can be easily replaced by the user, and a machine-integrated drive portion that remains fixed. This segmentation allows users to simply exchange containers without dealing with complex dosing mechanisms, improving ease of operation while containing complexity in the fixed portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The container portion containing the liquid cleaning agent and dosing pump is extracted as a separate interchangeable unit from the machine body. This extraction enables users to replace only the container without disassembling or contacting the integrated drive mechanism, enhancing user safety and operational simplicity.
2Volume of moving object
If the drive motor is positioned offset from the pump rotor axis, then space utilization is improved by maximizing container volume, but mechanical coupling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive motor is deliberately positioned asymmetrically (offset) relative to the pump rotor axis rather than being centered. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the container's internal volume by avoiding a centralized motor housing that would reduce storage space, while the complexity of the offset mechanical coupling is managed through the fixed drive portion design.
3Reliability
If a fixed line coupling is used during operation, then system reliability and tightness are improved, but ease of maintenance and refilling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The line coupling is designed to be dynamically configurable: during operation it maintains a fixed, sealed connection for reliability and tightness, while during container replacement it can be opened and reconfigured. This dynamic behavior allows the system to switch between operational integrity mode and maintenance mode, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of refilling.
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 provides a user-friendly, efficient, and safe method for cleaning beverage machines by allowing for easy exchange of cleaning agents without direct user contact, maintaining system tightness, and optimizing space usage within the machine.
Implementation Method 1
The interchangeable container includes a dosing pump for the liquid cleaning agent
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a beverage machine, more particularly for preparing hot drinks, with a liquid cleaner replaceable container formed as a replaceable container, characterized in that parts of a liquid cleaner dosing device are formed interchangeable with the liquid cleaner replaceable container.