Pump-Dispensed Coffee Brewer Without a Spill-Prone Carafe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drip-type coffee brewing apparatuses with carafes are cumbersome, prone to spills, and require continuous user attention for dispensing single servings, limiting cup size versatility and increasing complexity in use.
Innovation Solution
A compact coffee brewing machine with a base, filter basket assembly, and dispensing pump assembly that allows for automated dispensing of hot beverages into cups of varying heights, eliminating the need for a carafe and simplifying the brewing and dispensing process by integrating the water reservoir and brewing tank vertically, reducing the machine's height and stabilizing it, while using a magnetically coupled impeller pump for efficient beverage distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a carafe is used to receive brewed beverage, then multiple servings can be brewed, but the apparatus becomes cumbersome and prone to spills during pouring
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dispensing function from the carafe by providing a separate dispensing spout and actuator mechanism. The carafe is removed entirely, and beverage is dispensed directly from the brewing chamber through a controlled dispensing system, eliminating the cumbersome pouring operation while maintaining multiple serving capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing system allows the beverage to be dispensed automatically when a cup is placed in position. The cup itself activates the dispensing mechanism by displacing a pushbutton, making the system self-serve without requiring manual pouring or complex user operation.
2Productivity
If the dispensing actuator is placed under the brewing tank outlet, then single servings can be dispensed, but spills may strike the user's hand and continuous attention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a drain assembly as an intermediary component between the dispensing spout and the cup. This drain assembly catches any errant spills or drips before they can strike the user's hand, eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining the rapid dispensing capability of the actuator system.
3Length of stationary object
If the stand height is reduced to minimize machine size, then the machine becomes more compact, but the maximum cup height is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves the height constraint by repositioning the dispensing spout laterally outward from the main body of the machine. This dimensional change allows the spout to extend beyond the vertical profile of the machine, creating sufficient clearance for tall cups while maintaining a compact overall machine height.
4Device complexity
If the brewing tank and water reservoir are positioned above the stand, then the structure is simplified, but the center of gravity becomes high causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the brewing tank and water reservoir below the stand rather than above it. This inversion lowers the center of gravity to the base of the machine, significantly improving stability while maintaining structural simplicity through the integrated lower positioning of these components.
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 a user-friendly, stable, and easy-to-clean brewing apparatus that minimizes user involvement during dispensing, accommodates different cup sizes, and eliminates the need for a carafe, enhancing the brewing and dispensing process with reduced attention demands and improved safety.
Implementation Method 1
using a magnetically coupled impeller pump for efficient beverage distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage machine for preparing and dispensing a hot beverage having a pump dispensing system. Hot water passes through a water distributor to infuse material in a filter basket. A coffee tank receives the brewed beverage and maintains it at an appropriate temperature. On demand, a pump dispensing system delivers the beverage through an outlet chamber and spout into a user's cup. The user manipulates a switch to vary the rate at which the pump dispensing system dispenses the beverage.