Membrane Pump Beverage Machine for Variable Flow and Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage preparation machines are limited by piston pumps that are optimized for specific flow and pressure requirements, making them inadequate for preparing a variety of beverages with different flow and pressure needs, such as coffee and tea, which restricts their versatility and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine equipped with a membrane pump that can deliver up to 600 ml/min of fluid at pressures up to 25 bars, controlled by a unit that adjusts flow and pressure according to specific commands for different types of beverages, allowing for flexible preparation of various drinks using a common fluidic system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a piston pump is used in conventional beverage machines, then the machine can deliver a fixed flow of liquid under a given pressure optimized for specific beverage types, but the machine cannot adapt to different beverage types with different flow and pressure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pump system adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically modifies pump operating parameters (rotation speed, injection pressure, flow rate) based on the selected beverage type, allowing the same hardware to adapt to different beverage preparation requirements without sacrificing performance consistency for any specific type.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes physical parameters of the pump operation - specifically rotation speed, injection pressure, and flow rate - to match different beverage types. The control unit stores multiple sets of parameters corresponding to different beverage types and automatically selects the appropriate set, enabling versatility while maintaining optimized performance for each beverage category.
2Productivity
If the machine is designed for high flow and low pressure beverages, then it can prepare beverages like coffee efficiently, but it cannot prepare beverages requiring low flow and high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system dynamically adjusts its operating characteristics by varying rotation speed and injection pressure based on the beverage type selected. This allows the machine to deliver high flow rates for coffee preparation while maintaining the capability to provide low flow rates with high pressure for other beverage types, resolving the contradiction between productivity for one type and adaptability across types.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements parameter changes by storing and applying different sets of pump parameters (rotation speed, injection pressure, flow rate) corresponding to different beverage types. This enables the machine to optimize flow and pressure characteristics for each beverage category, allowing high productivity for coffee while maintaining versatility for other beverages with different requirements.
3Productivity
If the machine is designed for low flow and high pressure beverages, then it can prepare beverages like espresso efficiently, but it cannot prepare beverages requiring high flow and low pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system dynamically adjusts rotation speed and flow rate based on the selected beverage type, allowing it to deliver high pressure with low flow for espresso preparation while maintaining the capability to provide high flow with low pressure for other beverage types. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between optimizing for one flow/pressure combination and adapting to others.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes pump parameters (rotation speed, injection pressure, flow rate) according to the beverage type selected. This enables the machine to achieve high pressure for espresso preparation while also being capable of high flow rates for other beverages, thereby maintaining both productivity for pressure-sensitive beverages and versatility across different flow requirements.
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
Enables the preparation of a wide range of beverages with different flow and pressure requirements, enhancing in-cup quality and providing flexibility in machine integration, while allowing users to easily switch between different beverage types without requiring specialized skills or tools.
Implementation Method 1
a beverage preparation machine equipped with a membrane pump that can deliver up to 600 ml/min of fluid at pressures up to 25 bars
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage preparation machine is disclosed that includes a base and at least one module. The base conditions and delivers a fluid to the at least one module that houses an ingredient to be mixed with the fluid. The base is controlled by a control unit that is configured to control the flow and the pressure of the liquid delivered to the module, during the preparation of a beverage, according to a command selected from a plurality of commands suitable for different types of ingredients and/or for different preparation processes of a given ingredient.