Coffee maker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing espresso coffee makers, both electric and manual, face issues such as flavor degradation due to rapid extraction, oil component filtration, complex structures, high costs, large size, inconvenience, and instability due to concentrated force during operation.
Innovation Solution
A portable lever-type espresso coffee maker with rotatable levers, gears, and a double bar connecting rod structure that converges to concentrate force, wear-resistant Teflon members for reduced friction, and a cup coupling part with high-pressure discharge openings to enhance durability and extraction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a single lever is used in traditional lever-type espresso extractors, then the machine can be compact, but the force is concentrated forward causing instability and potential forward falling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pair of asymmetrically positioned levers (first lever and second lever) that are not symmetrically arranged around the central axis. This asymmetric configuration distributes the applied force more effectively and prevents the machine from falling forward, while maintaining a compact footprint. The levers are positioned at different radial distances from the rotation axis, creating an asymmetric force distribution that enhances stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point force application to a distributed force application by introducing two levers that apply force at different spatial locations and angles. The connecting rods transmit these forces through a three-dimensional path to the compression element, utilizing spatial distribution in multiple dimensions to achieve both compactness and stability.
2Force
If traditional piston and spring mechanisms are used, then the machine can achieve compression, but the mechanical structure becomes complicated and difficult to design and mount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional spring component from the compression mechanism. Instead of using a spring to provide compression force, the invention directly transmits mechanical force from the levers through connecting rods to compress the coffee powder. This extraction of the spring element significantly simplifies the mechanical structure while maintaining effective compression capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex piston-spring mechanical system with a simplified lever-connecting rod compression system. The traditional multi-component mechanical assembly is substituted with a more direct force transmission mechanism that uses levers and connecting rods to achieve compression without requiring a piston-cylinder arrangement or spring elements.
3Temperature
If electric heating elements are used for water heating, then hot water can be supplied, but time is required to boil water which reduces extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-heating chamber that pre-heats the water before it reaches the extraction zone. This preliminary heating action occurs in advance of the main extraction process, reducing the time required for water to reach extraction temperature. The pre-heating chamber is positioned to receive water from the water tank and heat it using a heating element before the water is delivered to the coffee powder.
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 coffee maker generates higher pressure, is more stable, and improves coffee extraction performance while being compact and easy to use, maintaining flavor and reducing maintenance complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the pair of connecting rods are inclined to converge toward the center of the coffee maker in a downward direction, and the separation distance between the opposite side surfaces of the lower ends of the connecting rods is 1 cm or less
Implementation Method 2
wear-resistant members may be mounted on both sides of the vertical part, and the wear-resistant members may be made of Teflon material, so that they can prevent abrasion with the inner wall of a housing constituting the appearance of the coffee maker during the vertical movement of the movable part and reduce frictional force
Implementation Method 3
gears are formed at the top ends of the rotatable levers and engage with each other
Implementation Method 4
the lower part of the moving part is composed of a compression part
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a coffee maker. In the coffee maker: a pair of rotatable levers extend on both sides of the coffee maker, and gears are formed at the top ends of the rotatable levers and engage with each other; curved heads are mounted on the upper portions of the rotatable levers, respectively; a pair of connecting rods extend downward from the opposite sides of the lower portions of the heads and are coupled to a movable part, the pair of connecting rods are inclined downward to converge toward the center, and the separation distance between the opposite side surfaces of the lower ends of the connecting rods is 1 cm or less; and each of the connecting rods includes a double bar in which a first connecting rod member and a second connecting rod member having the same structure are coupled to each other at a predetermined interval.