Movable Boiling Pot Control for Turkish Coffee Overflow Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machines for preparing Turkish coffee lack efficient control mechanisms for slow heating and timely removal from heat, often resulting in inconsistent froth height detection and potential overflow.

Innovation Solution

A coffee machine with a movable boiling pot that contacts an induction or resistance heater during boiling, featuring a controller, temperature sensor, and capacitance sensor to manage the heating process, ensuring precise temperature control and overflow prevention through a solenoid mechanism and multiple water nozzles for enhanced mixing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the boiling pot is continuously in contact with the heater, then heating efficiency is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates and overflow risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The boiling pot is designed to be movable relative to the heater, transitioning between contact and non-contact states. During heating, the pot contacts the heater for efficient heat transfer. During boiling, the pot is lifted away from the heater to prevent overflow, enabling dynamic adaptation to different process stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor detects the foam height or liquid level in the boiling pot and provides feedback to the control system. When the foam reaches a predetermined height indicating imminent overflow, the sensor triggers the lifting mechanism to raise the pot away from the heater, automatically adjusting the heating state based on real-time conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the heater is quickly removed from contact with the boiling pot, then overflow prevention is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverflow preventionVSAvoidtemperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the contact state between the boiling pot and heater based on real-time foam height detection. The pot is lifted away from the heater when overflow is detected, but can be returned to contact position when the foam subsides, providing dynamic temperature control that maintains both stability and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting mechanism is designed to raise the boiling pot away from the heater before actual overflow occurs, based on predictive detection of foam height. This preliminary action prevents overflow while allowing quick return to heating contact to maintain temperature stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 machine effectively prepares Turkish coffee by maintaining precise temperature control and preventing overflow, ensuring consistent froth formation and safe operation.

Implementation Method 1

the heater is an induction type heater

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the heater is a resistance type heater

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule Heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

a solenoid is provided in the lid of the boiling chamber which pushes the cup down for boiling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetism: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP2887845B8Coffee machine
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 EMEK INOVATIF ELECTRIC & ELECTRONICS TEKNOLOJILERI

AI summary

A coffee machine, comprising: at least one boiling chamber comprising a heater; at least one boiling pot for insertion into the at least one boiling chamber in a starting position, the boiling pot having a liquid containing portion comprising a bottom surface; and a lifter that selectively moves the boiling pot within the boiling chamber between a boiling position at which the bottom surface contacts the heater and a starting position at which the bottom surface of the boiling pot does not contact the heater.