Motorized Brewing Unit with Power-Monitored Capsule Chamber Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage machines require significant user intervention for capsule loading and ejection, posing safety risks and inefficiencies, especially in terms of manual force requirements and potential injuries during operation.
Innovation Solution
A motorized beverage machine with a brewing unit comprising movable assemblies that are driven by a motor and transmission system, allowing for controlled and safe operation, including semi-automatic or automatic brewing, rinsing, and de-scaling modes, with power consumption monitoring to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual actuation of the brewing device is used, then the device structure remains simple, but significant user intervention is required and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical actuation system with an automated motorized system. The motor-driven movable assembly automatically performs the closing and opening actions that previously required manual user intervention, thereby reducing the ease of operation burden on users while introducing mechanical automation complexity.
2Extent of automation
If motorized actuation is implemented, then user intervention is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a motorized actuation system that replaces manual mechanical operation. The motor-driven movable assembly provides automated control of the brewing chamber closure, reducing user intervention while accepting the inherent complexity of adding motorized components and control systems.
3Reliability
If manual force is applied during closure, then the device structure remains simple, but safety risks and potential injuries increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual force application with a controlled motorized system. The motor-driven movable assembly provides controlled closure movements with integrated safety features including obstacle detection and automatic reversal capabilities, thereby improving safety while accepting the complexity of the control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control mechanisms in the motorized system. The control system monitors the closure process and can detect obstacles or abnormal resistance, automatically reversing the motor action to prevent injuries. This feedback loop enhances safety by providing real-time monitoring and responsive control.
Data Source
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AI summary
A motorized beverage machine (1) has a brewing unit (2) that comprises a first assembly (13) and a second assembly (14) cooperating together, each assembly (13,14) delimiting part of a brewing chamber (29) for containing an ingredient capsule (30). At least one of these assemblies (14) is: - movable away from the cooperating assembly (13) into an open position within such machine for forming between said assemblies a passage (31) for inserting into and/or removing from the brewing unit the ingredient capsule (30); and - movable to the cooperating assembly into a closed position for forming the brewing chamber (29). The machine comprises activation means including: - a motor for driving the movable assembly between the open and closed positions and transmission means for transmitting the drive action of the motor to the movable assembly; - water supply means for supplying heated water to brewing chamber; - control means for controlling the drive action of the motor comprising means for measuring at least one electrical parameter representative of the motor power consumption and for comparing the evolution of said measured parameter as a function of time during the transfer of the assembly from the open to the closed position to a set reference and means for providing an input to at least one of the activation means as a result of the compared evolution of the measured parameter to the set reference.