Residual water container for a device for beverage preparation and devices for beverage preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation devices, such as coffee machines, face issues with residual water containers that require additional steps to empty without contaminating the exterior, leading to laborious cleaning and drying processes.
Innovation Solution
A residual water container design featuring a bowl with a cover and a pivoting flap that can be opened to allow controlled pouring without removing the cover, utilizing a projection and counterweight mechanism to facilitate tilting and pouring while keeping the exterior clean.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover is added to prevent residual water from getting into the interior of the coffee machine, then protection of moisture-sensitive components is improved, but the complexity of emptying the bowl increases due to additional removal steps
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is divided into two functional parts: a cover that protects the interior and a pivoting flap that enables controlled emptying. The cover remains fixed to protect moisture-sensitive components, while the segmented flap portion can be independently pivoted to open a pouring opening, allowing residual water to be emptied without removing the entire cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap is designed to be pivotable relative to the bowl, transitioning between a closed state (covering the opening) and an open state (exposing the pouring opening). This dynamic element allows the system to switch between protection mode and emptying mode without requiring removal of the fixed cover, simplifying the emptying operation while maintaining protection when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the bowl is emptied by removing the cover, then emptying is simplified, but contamination of the outside of the residual water container occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of uncontrolled water flow is extracted and redirected through a designated pouring opening. The pivoting flap isolates the emptying action to a specific controlled path, allowing residual water to be poured out through the opening while the rest of the container exterior remains protected from contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting flap acts as an intermediary element between the interior residual water and the exterior environment. When pivoted to the open state, it creates a controlled pouring opening that mediates the water flow, directing it in a controlled manner rather than allowing uncontrolled spilling that would contaminate the exterior surfaces.
3Reliability
If a fixed cover is used to prevent water evaporation into the interior, then component protection is improved, but cleaning and drying labor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The static cover is enhanced with a dynamic pivoting flap that can be easily opened during emptying operations. This reduces the need for complete disassembly and thorough cleaning, as the controlled pouring opening prevents widespread contamination. The flap can be quickly pivoted open and closed, enabling rapid emptying without requiring time-consuming cleaning and drying procedures.
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 easy and clean emptying of residual water without exposing the operator to potential contamination, allowing single-handed operation and preventing external contamination during emptying.
Implementation Method 1
When the residual water container (1) is tilted, the flap (5) is automatically pivoted relative to the bowl (2) about a pivot axis (6) and a pouring opening (9) is automatically released
Implementation Method 2
a projection (8) with a first flow surface (81) which is formed when the residual water container (1) is tilted about a tilting axis, which is at least partially parallel to the pivot axis, so that residual water flowing out of the bowl (2) flows against the first flow surface (81), whereby a torque acting on the flap (5) is generated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Residual water container (1) for a beverage preparation device comprising a tray (2) with at least one interior space for receiving residual water, a cover (3) for covering a first partial area of an opening of the tray (2), and a flap (5) for temporarily covering a second partial area of the opening of the tray (2). The flap is pivotable relative to the tray (2) about a pivot axis (6).