Pivoting Guide Sleeve and Nested Hose Outlet for Automated Latte Art
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for creating latte art patterns on coffee are complex, time-consuming, and require significant practice, while existing automated solutions are bulky and difficult to integrate into standard coffee machines.
Innovation Solution
A compact device with a swiveling guide sleeve and a milk froth hose that moves tangentially and radially, allowing precise control over the milk froth outlet to create intricate patterns, which can be integrated into existing coffee machine outlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated devices with multiple degrees of freedom are used to create latte art patterns, then automation capability is improved, but device complexity and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hose element is inserted into the guide sleeve, with the outlet positioned at the end of the hose element that extends beyond the guide sleeve. This nested configuration allows the outlet to move linearly along the guide sleeve's longitudinal axis while the entire guide sleeve can pivot, achieving automated pattern creation with a compact, integrated structure that reduces overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide sleeve is designed to be pivotable about a vertical axis, allowing the outlet to change its angular position dynamically. Combined with the linear movement capability of the hose element within the guide sleeve, this creates a dynamic system that can automatically position the outlet at various coordinates to draw patterns, improving automation while maintaining manageable device complexity
2Extent of automation
If existing automated latte art devices are used, then pattern creation automation is improved, but the devices are bulky and difficult to integrate into standard coffee machines
Solution Approach 1:
The hose element is nested within the guide sleeve, allowing the outlet to move linearly along the guide sleeve's longitudinal axis while the entire guide sleeve can pivot, achieving automated pattern creation with a compact, integrated structure that reduces overall device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be integrated into existing beverage outlets of coffee machines, with the guide sleeve and hose element configuration allowing it to serve multiple functions: automated pattern creation, flexible positioning, and compatibility with standard coffee machine outlets, thereby reducing the need for separate bulky automated latte art machines
3Device complexity
If manual pouring technique is used to create latte art, then device simplicity is maintained, but time consumption and skill requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sleeve is designed to be pivotable about a vertical axis, allowing the outlet to change its angular position dynamically. Combined with the linear movement capability of the hose element within the guide sleeve, this creates a dynamic system that can automatically position the outlet at various coordinates to draw patterns automatically, reducing preparation time while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The control device automatically controls the movement of the outlet in two or three coordinate directions to generate patterns, eliminating the need for operator skill in manual pouring techniques. The system serves itself by autonomously positioning the outlet and controlling fluid dispensing, significantly reducing preparation time while maintaining device simplicity through automated control
Data Source
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AI summary
A device is equipped with a control unit that allows an outlet (233), particularly for milk foam, to be moved spatially in two or three coordinate directions (x, y, z). This enables a graphic pattern to be automatically generated on the surface of the beverage, preferably coffee, placed in the container during the dispensing of the fluid. A pivotally mounted guide sleeve (22) and a hose element (23) with the outlet (233), which is slidable within the guide sleeve and allows the milk foam to pass through, are provided. This outlet (233) is controlled by the hose element (23) and the guide sleeve (22) and can be moved in a plane above the container in these two coordinate directions (x, y), thus allowing the milk foam to be dispensed into the container. This results in a compact design of the device, making it very space-saving to integrate into a coffee machine.