Movable Beverage Machine Foot for Compact Storage and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage preparation machines with capsule-based systems face challenges in compact design and user-friendly operation, particularly in reducing overall size for storage and ensuring ergonomic handling while maintaining functionality for preparing and dispensing various beverages.
Innovation Solution
The machine incorporates movable placement members for stability and size reduction, a liquid circuit with activatable units for beverage processing, and a user-interface device that can be retracted for storage, allowing for compact configuration and easy deployment for beverage preparation and dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the beverage machine is designed with a compact structure for storage, then the storage space is reduced, but the stability and operational functionality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the foot movable between a retracted position (for compact storage) and a deployed position (for stability during operation). The foot can be moved manually or automatically, allowing the machine to adapt its structure dynamically based on whether it is being stored or used, thus resolving the contradiction between compact storage volume and operational stability.
2Volume of moving object
If the user-interface device is made retractable for compact storage, then the storage configuration is improved, but the ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The user-interface device is designed to be automatically retractable into the housing without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the retraction mechanism, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust or store the interface device, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving compact storage configuration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the placement member is extended for stability during beverage preparation, then the stability is improved, but the overall size of the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The placement member is designed as a movable foot that can be extended when needed for stability during beverage preparation and retracted when not in use. This dynamic configuration allows the machine to have a compact overall length for storage while providing extended stability during operational phases, resolving the contradiction between stability and machine size.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine (1) has a unit for preparing and dispensing via an outlet (36) a beverage. The machine includes: an outside housing (30) with one or more outside faces (30a,30a′,30b,30c,30d); and at least one placement member (30e) for resting onto a generally flat external support surface (5) in a configuration such that the unit is in an orientation for preparing and dispensing the beverage via the beverage outlet (36) to a beverage dispensing surface (5,37). At least one placement member (30e) is movable and has: a deployed placement position providing a stability of the unit in this orientation on the external support surface (5); and a retracted rest position within the outside housing (30) or collapsed against the outside housing (30).