Piston Pump Metering System for Precise Beverage Pod Water Dosage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current machines for dispensing beverages from pods lack precise and reproducible metering of water, leading to inconsistent drink preparation.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing machine with a pumping system featuring a piston-driven water pump, non-return valves, and a motor-actuated screw-nut system for precise water delivery, along with an air injection system for homogeneous mixing, ensuring accurate and repeatable quantities of water and air for each beverage preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional pumping system is used to deliver water into the pod, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of water dosage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping system is segmented into distinct functional components: a piston for volume displacement, first and second non-return valves for directional control, and a motor with screw-nut mechanism for precise actuation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring precise water dosage while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the pumping mechanism by using a motor-driven screw-nut system to convert rotational motion into precise linear piston displacement. This parameter transformation enables accurate control of water volume delivery, achieving high manufacturing precision in water dosage through controlled mechanical parameter changes.
2Manufacturing precision
If non-return valves are added to ensure precise water delivery, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-return valve function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component rather than being integrated into the pump body. This extraction allows the valve to be optimized for its specific purpose of preventing backflow, ensuring reliable unidirectional water flow and reproducible dosage. The modular valve design simplifies maintenance and replacement while contributing to overall system precision.
3Reliability
If a piston-driven pump with non-return valves is used, then the reliability of water dosage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The piston-driven pump with non-return valves operates automatically through motor actuation, eliminating the need for manual pumping operations. The system self-regulates water delivery through the mechanical action of the motor-driven piston and the automatic functioning of the non-return valves, which open and close based on pressure differentials without requiring user intervention. This automation maintains high dosage reliability while simplifying user operation.
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 solution provides precise and reproducible water and air delivery, ensuring consistent drink quality by preventing water wastage and maintaining hygiene standards through effective purging and mixing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a piston mounted to slide in leaktight manner in the chamber; means for actuating the piston so as to suck up at least one volume of water and to push back said at least one volume of water
Implementation Method 2
a first non-return valve arranged on the distribution circuit between the reservoir and the pump and a second non-return valve arranged on the distribution circuit between the pump and the downstream end of said circuit
Implementation Method 3
the air injected into the at least one cavity pushes the at least one ingredient into the mixing chamber
Implementation Method 4
the water injected into the channel is transferred into said mixing chamber, which allows the mixing of the ingredient(s) with the water
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~9
Figure 10~14
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine for dispensing beverages from a pod, including a device (56) for dispensing at least one predetermined volume of water Ve1 in the pod. The dispensing device comprises a vessel (57), a dispensing circuit (58) connected at the upstream end thereof (58a) to the vessel, and a pumping system arranged on the dispensing circuit. The pumping system includes a water pump (61) provided with a chamber (62) connected to the dispensing circuit and with a piston (63) slidably mounted in the chamber. The pumping system includes means (64) for actuating the piston so as to suck in at least one volume of water Ve1 and to pump out said at least one volume of water Ve1. The pumping system also includes a first non-return valve (59) arranged on the dispensing circuit between the vessel and the pump, and a second non-return valve (60) arranged on the dispensing circuit between the pump and the downstream end of said circuit.