Removable Milk Line Coupling for Height-Adjustable Coffee Spouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines with height-adjustable dispensing carriages face challenges in cleaning milk supply lines due to their complex and time-consuming disassembly requirements, which affects both cleaning efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
Designing a coffee machine with a flexible hose connecting two coupling points, allowing for easy detachment and reattachment of the milk/coffee outlet, enabling separate and simple cleaning of all milk-contacting components, while keeping the supply line hidden from view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the supply line is hidden behind the milk/coffee spout for aesthetic purposes, then the visual appearance is improved, but the assembly and disassembly effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supply line is divided into two separate coupling points (first coupling point on housing, second coupling point on milk/coffee outlet), allowing the milk/coffee outlet to be detached as a separate unit. This segmentation enables the supply line to remain hidden during operation while simplifying cleaning by allowing easy removal of the outlet component.
Solution Approach 2:
The milk/coffee outlet with its second coupling point is extracted as a removable component from the main housing structure. This allows the outlet to be easily detached for cleaning while the supply line remains concealed within the housing during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and ease of maintenance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the milk/coffee outlet is rigidly connected to the housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the cleaning effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the milk/coffee outlet and housing is segmented into two detachable coupling points. During operation, the outlet remains stably connected through both coupling points, but during cleaning, the outlet can be easily removed by detaching from the second coupling point, reducing cleaning effort while maintaining structural stability during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system transitions from a rigid permanent connection to a dynamic removable connection. The outlet can be firmly connected during operation for stability, but can be easily detached when cleaning is needed, allowing the system to adapt between operational and maintenance states.
3Ease of operation
If the supply line is made visible for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the visual appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the supply line into two coupling points and making the milk/coffee outlet removable, the system allows easy access to the supply line for cleaning by removing the outlet, while during normal operation the supply line remains hidden behind the outlet, maintaining aesthetic appearance.
4Device complexity
If the milk line is integrated into the housing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The milk line system is segmented into the housing-integrated first coupling point and the removable milk/coffee outlet with the second coupling point. This segmentation maintains relatively simple integration while enabling easy cleaning by allowing the outlet to be detached and cleaned separately without complex disassembly of the housing.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a coffee machine (1) with a housing (2) and a dispensing carriage (3) mounted thereon so that it can be adjusted in height, which is connected to a storage container (5), in particular to a milk container (6), via a supply line (4). It is essential to the invention that the supply line (4) has a first coupling point (7) and a second coupling point (8) and a flexible hose (9) connecting the first and second coupling points (7, 8), the first coupling point (7) detachably fixed to the housing (2) and fluidly connected to the storage container (5) and the second coupling point (8) can be detachably fixedly connected to the dispensing carriage (3) and fluidly connected to a milk/coffee spout (10) that can be plugged onto the dispensing carriage (3). , so that the reservoir (5), the supply line (4) together with the coupling points (7,8) and the milk/coffee outlet (10) can be removed from the coffee machine (1) for cleaning purposes. As a result, a milk line that is visually appealing and easy to assemble or disassemble can be provided.