Piston-Driven Capsule Locking Brewing Device for Automatic Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machines require complex, costly, and inconvenient manual operation to lock beverage capsules due to high water pressure needs, making them difficult to disassemble and use.

Innovation Solution

A locking brewing device with a piston that moves from an open to a locked position under pressure medium chamber pressure, allowing for automatic capsule locking and unlocking without user pressing, using a liquid guide piercing tube and elastic reset member for reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a manual pressing structure is used to lock the beverage capsule, then the sealing performance can be maintained, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical pressing system with an automated piston-driven locking mechanism. The piston is moved by liquid pressure from the liquid supply system, eliminating the need for manual handle operation. This substitution maintains the required downward force on the seal ring while removing the complex manual operating mechanism, thereby improving reliability without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs the locking action automatically through the piston mechanism that is driven by the liquid supply system. The piston self-actuates to press the seal ring against the brewing chamber, maintaining sealing performance without requiring user intervention. This self-service approach eliminates manual operation while ensuring reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a manual pressing structure is used to lock the beverage capsule, then the sealing performance can be maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to great pressing force required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a manual pressing structure is used to lock the beverage capsule, then the sealing performance can be maintained, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to difficulty in disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoiddisassembly difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the brewing device into separable components, including the piston assembly, seal ring, and brewing chamber. The piston can be independently removed from the brewing chamber, and the seal ring can be accessed and replaced. This segmentation allows for easy disassembly and maintenance while maintaining the integrated sealing function during operation, thereby improving ease of repair without compromising sealing performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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, quick, and reliable locking of beverage capsules without manual pressing, improving user experience and reducing operational complexity and costs.

Implementation Method 1

the piston may move from the open position to the locked position under the pressure of a medium in the pressure medium chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the piston is slidably and sealedly arranged in the piston chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS11627828B2Locking brewing device, beverage brewing device and beverage machine

Publication Date: 2023.04.18 GUANGDONG MIDEA CONSUMER ELECTRICS MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A locking brewing device includes a seat body configured to mount a material cup and including a piston chamber with an open end and a closed end, a piston slidably and sealedly arranged in the piston chamber and configured to lock a beverage capsule in the material cup, and a liquid guide piercing tube arranged at a surface of the piston that faces the open end of the piston chamber and being configured to pierce the beverage capsule in the material cup and deliver liquid. The piston and the closed end of the piston chamber form a pressure medium chamber having an opening, and the piston includes a liquid inlet passage in communication with the liquid guide piercing tube.