Movable Beverage Outlet and Cooling Module for Hot or Cold Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation devices are limited to producing hot coffee beverages only, as they are designed for a pre-set optimal brewing temperature, making it inconvenient to prepare beverages of lower temperatures like iced coffee or chilled tea without cooling the beverage, which results in either refrigeration delays or undesired dilution when using ice.
Innovation Solution
A device with a movable brewing unit and cooling module that allows for selective preparation of hot or cold beverages by adjusting the relative position of the hot beverage outlet and cooling module, enabling optimal extraction parameters while allowing consumers to choose between hot or cold beverage temperatures, with a control unit managing temperature, flow rate, and additional liquid components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a beverage preparation device uses a pre-set optimal brewing temperature for coffee ingredients, then the extraction quality of hot coffee beverages is improved, but the device cannot prepare beverages of lower temperatures such as iced coffee or chilled tea
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing unit is made movable relative to the cooling module, allowing dynamic reconfiguration between a hot beverage preparation position and a cold beverage preparation position. This enables the device to adapt between different beverage types by changing the spatial relationship between components rather than being fixed in a single configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions: preparing both hot coffee beverages with optimal extraction temperature and cold beverages such as iced coffee or chilled tea. The brewing unit can serve dual purposes by being positioned differently relative to the cooling module, making a single device versatile for different beverage categories.
2Temperature
If a consumer stores freshly prepared hot beverage in a fridge or freezer to cool it to desired temperature, then the beverage reaches the desired temperature, but the process is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module is integrated into the beverage preparation system and activated during or immediately after the brewing process. This preliminary cooling action eliminates the need for secondary refrigeration steps, allowing the beverage to be cooled to the desired temperature as part of the primary preparation process rather than requiring a separate storage and retrieval operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the beverage preparation system by integrating the cooling module with the brewing unit. This combination allows cooling to occur in the same device and process flow as brewing, eliminating the need for separate refrigeration equipment and operations.
3Temperature
If ice-cubes are added into the freshly prepared beverage to cool it, then the beverage reaches lower temperature, but the beverage undergoes undesired dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module acts as an intermediary cooling system that reduces beverage temperature through controlled thermal exchange rather than direct ice addition. This mediator approach achieves the desired temperature reduction while maintaining beverage concentration and quality, avoiding the dilution effect that would result from adding ice cubes directly to the beverage.
4Manufacturing precision
If a beverage preparation device is designed for hot coffee beverages only, then the extraction parameters are optimized for hot beverages, but the device lacks versatility for cold beverages
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing unit's movable design allows it to dynamically adjust its position relative to the cooling module, enabling the device to optimize extraction parameters for hot beverages when positioned for hot preparation and to transition to cold beverage preparation when positioned for cold preparation. This dynamic reconfiguration maintains extraction optimization while expanding beverage type capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with universal functionality to handle both hot and cold beverage preparation through the movable brewing unit. The same brewing unit that optimizes hot coffee extraction can be repositioned to prepare cold beverages, making a single device capable of serving multiple beverage categories with appropriate parameter optimization for each.
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 convenient preparation of a wide range of beverages at desired temperatures, maintaining optimal extraction parameters while allowing for hot or cold dispensing, thus addressing the limitations of existing devices by providing a versatile solution for various temperature preferences.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling module (20) connected to the housing (10a, 20a) and designed for cooling a liquid provided to the cooling module by means of the hot extraction module (10)
Implementation Method 2
a pump and heating means which are connected to the brewing unit in order to enable the provision of a heated pressurized liquid to the brewing unit
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device for preparing hot and cold beverages, the device (30) comprising a hot extraction module(10) comprising a brewing unit (1) for injection of hot liquid into a beverage ingredients containing capsule, a hot beverage outlet (2) connected to the brewing unit (1) for dispensing of a hot extracted beverage, and a cooling module (20) comprising a cooling reservoir (5) for receiving the hot extracted beverage, wherein the hot beverage outlet (2) and the cooling module (20) are arranged moveably relative to each other such that the hot extracted beverage may be selectively dispensed from the hot beverage outlet (2) into the cooling reservoir (5) of the cooling module (20) in at least one relative position of the hot beverage outlet (2) and the cooling module (5).