Movable Chute Design for Coffee Machine Cleaning Tablet Introduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic coffee machines face issues with water vapor entering the spout and the risk of foreign body introduction through the cleaning tablet opening, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns during cleaning cycles.
Innovation Solution
A movable chute system that allows safe introduction of cleaning tablets during cleaning cycles by positioning the lower end adjacent to the upper opening and moving away from it during coffee preparation, reducing water vapor entry and minimizing foreign body risks, with a design that includes a sliding mechanism and inclined conduit for ergonomic and economical implementation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the chute lower end is positioned close to the upper opening for cleaning tablet introduction, then the cleaning tablet can be safely introduced into the infusion chamber, but water vapor from the infusion chamber can enter the chute and be channeled to the upper part of the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The chute lower end is made movable between a retracted position (during coffee preparation) and an inserted position (during cleaning). This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt to different operational modes: when inserted, it enables safe cleaning tablet introduction; when retracted, it prevents water vapor from entering the chute during infusion cycles.
2Ease of operation
If the chute opening is kept open for pellet introduction, then cleaning tablets can be introduced easily, but there is a risk of accidentally introducing foreign bodies into the infusion chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The chute opening is made dynamically controllable through a closure mechanism that opens only when the chute is in the inserted position and closes when retracted. This ensures that foreign bodies cannot enter when the machine is operating normally, while still allowing easy cleaning tablet introduction when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A closure element acts as an intermediary between the chute opening and the infusion chamber. This mediator controls access to the chamber, allowing legitimate cleaning tablets to pass through while blocking potential foreign bodies from entering during normal operation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the chute is made movable to prevent water vapor entry, then water vapor contamination is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chute is designed as a movable component that can be positioned in two states: inserted during cleaning operations and retracted during coffee preparation. This simple dynamic mechanism effectively prevents water vapor from entering the chute when retracted, while adding minimal complexity to the overall system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an automatic coffee machine (1) comprising an infusion chamber (12) intended to receive ground coffee and provided with an upper opening (13), a coffee distribution circuit and a chute (30) for introducing a cleaning tablet into the infusion chamber (12) through the upper opening (13), said chute (30) having a lower end (31) for dispensing said tablet to allow cleaning to be carried out the infusion chamber (12) and the coffee distribution circuit. According to the invention, the lower end (31) of the chute (30) is movable between a standby position in which it is separated from the upper opening (13) and an insertion position in which it is adjacent to the upper opening (13) to allow the introduction of the cleaning tablet into the infusion chamber (12).