Portion Pack Holder Protection for Adjustable-Pressure Coffee Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing machines designed for portion capsules cannot effectively use coffee pods without damaging them, leading to aroma loss and environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
A brewing system with a portion pack holder that includes a protective device to prevent piercing of coffee pods, allowing for the use of pads with filter material, and a controller for adjustable pressures to ensure high-quality brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a brewing machine designed for portion capsules is used with coffee pods, then the machine can process pod-like structures, but the piercing means will damage the pods causing aroma loss and quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A protective device is introduced as an intermediary element between the piercing means and the portion pack. This protective device selectively prevents the piercing means from damaging the portion pack while still allowing the brewing process to proceed. The protective device acts as a mediator that distinguishes between capsule lids (which need piercing) and portion packs (which need protection), resolving the contradiction between versatility and harm prevention.
2Ease of operation
If the piercing means is used to pierce capsule lids, then pressurized water can enter the capsule, but this same mechanism would perforate and damage portion packs
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is positioned in advance to counteract the harmful action of the piercing means before it can damage the portion pack. By placing the protective device between the piercing means and the portion pack, the system preemptively prevents the perforation that would otherwise occur during the brewing process, ensuring the reliability of the portion pack integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If coffee pods are used without protective measures, then the brewing machine can operate with pod-like structures, but the pods are not aroma-tight and cause environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device serves as a mediator that enables the use of pad-like portion packs with filter material while preventing the harmful effects of unfiltered coffee substance escape. By protecting the portion pack from piercing damage, the system maintains the aroma-tight seal and prevents environmental pollution from escaped coffee particles.
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 the use of coffee pods without damage, maintaining aroma and quality, and allows for brewing various coffee types with adjustable pressures, including espresso, caffè crema, and filter coffee.
Implementation Method 1
The brewing machine has a pressurized water device, a guide device for a portion pack holder and a controller. The controller is set up to provide at least three different pressures for the pressurized water.
Implementation Method 2
a portion pack containing a particulate beverage substance which can be extracted using water (e.g. a coffee substance) surrounded on all sides by a filter material (e.g. filter paper)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
In a system comprising a brewing machine (50) and a portion pack holder (1), the brewing machine (50) is designed to brew a beverage, in particular a hot coffee beverage, using a portion pack (40) which contains a particulate beverage substance which can be extracted using water. The brewing machine (50) has a pressurized-water device, a guide device (58) for the portion pack holder (1), and a control means. The control means is designed to provide at least three different pressures for the pressurized water. The portion pack holder (1) which is inserted into the guide device (58) can be moved upwards towards a piercing means (52) by means of the guide device (58). The portion pack holder (1) has a receptacle (3), in which at least one portion pack (40; in particular a filter pad) can be placed, and, beneath the receptacle (3), an outlet (24, 32) for the brewed beverage. A protection device (8) is also provided in order to protect a portion pack (40) which is placed in the receptacle (3) from the piercing means (52).