Removable Double-Walled Coffee Filter to Reduce Encrustation Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machine filters, particularly double-walled filters, face issues with rapid decline in functionality due to impurity and encrustation buildup between the bottom wall and filtering wall, leading to clogged dispensing holes and complex, wear-prone designs that require frequent disassembly for cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A simplified coffee machine filter design comprising a single-piece cup-shaped body and a removably associated filtering wall with a seal, made from food-grade silicone, allowing easy disassembly and cleaning, and featuring a gripping member for quick separation, reducing the number of components and construction complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the filtering wall is unremovably fixed to the cup-shaped body, then the filter structure is simpler, but impurities and encrustations accumulate in the gap between the bottom wall and filtering wall, reducing filter functionality and clogging the dispensing hole
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into two separable parts: a cup-shaped body and a filtering wall assembly. The filtering wall is removably coupled to the cup-shaped body, allowing the filtering wall to be separated for cleaning. This segmentation enables access to the gap between the bottom wall and filtering wall to remove accumulated impurities and encrustations, thereby maintaining filter functionality while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
2Reliability
If the filtering wall is removably coupled to the cup-shaped body for cleaning, then encrustations can be removed, but the filter becomes complex with multiple elements requiring disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is integrated with the filtering wall as a single unit, and the gripping member is combined with the seal structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be disassembled and reassembled. The filtering wall assembly (including filtering wall, seal, and gripping member) is removed as one unit for cleaning, simplifying the maintenance process while still allowing effective cleaning of the gap and dispensing hole.
3Ease of operation
If multiple elements are used in the filter, then cleaning is possible, but frequent disassembly and reassembly cause rapid wear of components
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the seal and gripping member with the filtering wall, the number of separate components is reduced. This means fewer connection points and interfaces that are subject to wear from repeated disassembly and reassembly. The filtering wall assembly is handled as a single unit, minimizing mechanical stress on individual components and extending their service life while maintaining ease of cleaning.
4Reliability
If a seal is placed between the filtering wall and cup-shaped body to prevent coffee powder passage, then sealing is improved, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is merged with the filtering wall as an integrated component rather than a separate element. This integration maintains effective sealing to prevent coffee powder from passing into the gap while avoiding the complexity of additional separate sealing components. The seal is positioned at the peripheral edge of the filtering wall to ensure proper sealing contact with the cup-shaped body.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A filter for an espresso coffee machine comprises a first portion having a cup-shaped body (2), for containing coffee powder, having at least one bottom wall (3) having an acceleration hole (5) for the dispensing of coffee; a second portion comprising a filtering wall (6) placed in the cup-shaped body (2) upstream of the acceleration hole (5) and removably associated with the cup-shaped body (2) and a seal (7) placed between an edge (6b) of the filtering wall (6) and the cup-shaped body (2); said seal (7) being coupled unremovably to the filtering wall (6). The filter exclusively comprises said first and said second portion.