Pivoting Beverage Outlet for Splash-Free Coffee Machine Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automatic coffee machines face challenges in cleaning cycles, including splashing and evaporating cleaning solutions, unsightly visual impressions, and the need for manual collection containers, which can lead to irritation and damage.
Innovation Solution
The beverage outlet is pivoted horizontally into the housing during cleaning, allowing solutions to be released directly into the drip tray, eliminating splashing and evaporation risks, and enabling automated or semi-automated cleaning without the need for external collection containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the beverage outlet is positioned vertically above the drip tray for normal operation, then the drink can be dispensed properly into collection containers, but cleaning solutions splash and evaporate during cleaning cycles, causing safety hazards and unpleasant visual impressions
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage outlet is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position between vertical (for drink dispensing) and horizontal/retracted (for cleaning). This dynamic repositioning eliminates the harmful effects during cleaning while maintaining proper dispensing function during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet is designed to asymmetrically reposition into the housing front during cleaning, creating an asymmetric configuration that directs cleaning solutions inward rather than outward toward the user, thereby eliminating splash and evaporation hazards.
2Ease of operation
If the beverage outlet is extended outward for easy access during operation, then the outlet is easily accessible, but the distance from the drip tray increases, greater risk of splashing cleaning solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet dynamically adjusts its position based on operational mode: extended outward during drink dispensing for accessibility, and retracted into the housing during cleaning to minimize splash risk. This resolves the contradiction by making the outlet position adaptive rather than static.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual collection containers are used during cleaning cycles, then cleaning solutions can be contained, but additional packaging is required, increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage outlet itself serves as the containment mechanism during cleaning by repositioning into the housing front, directing solutions into the drip tray. This eliminates the need for external collection containers, reducing packaging requirements and device complexity while maintaining effective containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage outlet performs multiple functions: it dispenses drinks during operation and simultaneously serves as a containment structure during cleaning by repositioning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate collection containers, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
The beverage dispenser has a housing front beverage outlet (1) provided with an outlet (2) for beverage, and another outlet for providing water, steam, milk and/or milk froth. The beverage outlet is pivotably mounted about an axis parallel to the housing front extending horizontal axis and pivoted into a cleaning position in the housing front.