Machine for preparing infusions provided with a rotary basket filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for preparing infused or macerated beverages face issues where the filter basket, filled with ingredients lighter than water, tends to float and lose contact with the drive shaft, leading to incomplete submersion and inefficient preparation.
Innovation Solution
The machine incorporates a stop device allowing reduced movement of the filter basket along a vertical axis to ensure coupling with the drive shaft, along with a lid mechanism that allows air evacuation through perforations and a spherical portion for point contact to limit friction, ensuring secure rotation and submersion during preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the filter basket is filled with ingredient lighter than water, then the ingredient can be easily loaded into the filter basket, but the filter basket tends to float and lose contact with the drive shaft
Solution Approach 1:
A weight element is introduced as an intermediary component between the filter basket and the water/ingredient system. This weight element attaches to the filter basket assembly and provides downward force to counteract the buoyancy of the lightweight ingredient, ensuring the filter basket remains in contact with the drive shaft during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the weight parameter of the filter basket assembly by adding a removable weight element. This allows the overall density of the filter basket system to be adjusted to match the operating conditions, ensuring proper submersion and drive shaft contact while maintaining ease of ingredient loading.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the filter basket is not completely immersed in water, then air can escape more easily, but the beverage preparation is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The lid acts as an intermediary component that manages air evacuation while maintaining proper submersion. It provides a controlled path for air to escape during the brewing process, allowing the filter basket to remain completely immersed in water for optimized preparation without trapping excessive air.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary air evacuation through the lid design before the brewing process begins. By allowing air to escape through the lid during initial filling and basket insertion, the system ensures the basket is properly positioned and air-free before optimized brewing commences.
3Ease of operation
If the filter basket is allowed to move freely along the axis, then the lid can open for ingredient loading, but the coupling with the drive shaft is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
A stop device is introduced as an intermediary mechanical element between the filter basket and the drive shaft assembly. This stop device limits the upward movement of the filter basket along the axis, ensuring it remains properly coupled with the drive shaft while still allowing the lid to open for ingredient loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic positioning control where the filter basket can move vertically for loading purposes but is constrained by the stop device during operation. This dynamic constraint ensures the basket maintains proper coupling with the drive shaft when needed while remaining accessible for ingredient loading.
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
This design ensures reliable and optimized beverage preparation by maintaining the filter basket's contact with the drive shaft, preventing floating and ensuring complete submersion, thus improving ergonomics and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the spherical portion and the lower wall form a point sphere/plane contact when the filter basket is in the infusion position. Such point contact between the spherical portion and the lower wall helps to limit the friction of the filter basket on the lid.
Implementation Method 2
the carafe having a means of returning the lid to the closed position... the return mechanism includes a spring
Implementation Method 3
The receiving base includes a motor equipped with a drive shaft that rotates about a vertical axis... the drive shaft arranged in the carafe, the free end of the protrusion being fitted with the drive shaft arranged in the carafe
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a machine for preparing infused or macerated beverages (1) comprising a carafe (20) for receiving a liquid and a receiving base (2), said receiving base (2) comprising a motor (4) for rotating a drive shaft (3a, 3b) around an axis Δ, said carafe (20) comprising a filter basket (40) for receiving an ingredient to be infused or macerated which is driven in rotation by the drive shaft (3a, 3b) around the axis Δ, said filter basket (40) being movable in the carafe (20) between an infusion position in which the filter basket (40) is immersed in the liquid and coupled with the drive shaft (3a, 3b), and an extracted draining position in which the filter basket (40) is arranged above the level of the liquid.According to the invention, the filter basket (40) is mobile along the axis Δ with a play reduced to a few millimeters when the filter basket (40) is in the infusion position, said beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a stop device (3a, 3b, 48, 54, 68) to limit the mobility of the filter basket (40) along the axis Δ.