Reusable Brewing Cartridge With Preformed Nozzle Passages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee makers require expensive single-use disposable brewing cartridges and lack flexibility in brewing material selection, as well as require precise water and temperature settings, which can lead to suboptimal brewing results or equipment malfunction when using reusable cartridges without additional sealing features and readable indicia.

Innovation Solution

A reusable brewing cartridge with a lid having a permanent injection nozzle passage and an extraction nozzle pocket that avoids puncturing contact with the extraction needle, along with a readable identification feature made from color-indicia plastic, allowing for refilling with chosen brewing material and proper water and temperature settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a reusable brewing cartridge is used without puncturing contact with the extraction needle, then the sealing complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but fluid leakage may occur and brewing reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidbrewing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction needle puncturing function is extracted from the reusable cartridge system. Instead of the cartridge being punctured by the needle, the cartridge has pre-formed extraction nozzle passages that allow the needle to pass through without creating seals, eliminating the sealing requirement while maintaining brewing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction nozzle passages are pre-formed in the cartridge lid during manufacturing, before use. This preliminary action ensures that the passages are already optimized for fluid flow and positioned correctly, eliminating the need for puncturing contact and seals during the brewing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If single-use disposable brewing cartridges are used, then brewing parameters are pre-set and operation is simplified, but cost increases and flexibility in brewing material selection is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidbrewing material selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static pre-packaged cartridges to a dynamic reusable cartridge that can be refilled with different brewing materials. The cartridge structure remains constant while its contents are variable, providing both operational simplicity and material flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The reusable cartridge is designed with universal compatibility features including standard dimensions, permanent injection nozzle passages, and extraction nozzle passages that work with various brewing materials. The cartridge can serve multiple functions by being refilled with different materials, eliminating the need for single-use cartridges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If coffee makers require precise water amount and temperature settings, then brewing quality is improved, but device complexity and operation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrewing parameter precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge incorporates local quality features such as permanent injection nozzle passages and extraction nozzle passages with specific geometries optimized for particular brewing requirements. These localized structural features encode brewing parameters directly into the cartridge design, allowing the coffee maker to operate with simpler controls while maintaining precise brewing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Measurement precision

If disposable brewing cartridges with indicia are used, then the coffee maker can automatically detect brewing parameters, but the system complexity increases and reusable cartridges are incompatible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter detection accuracyVSAvoidcartridge compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The reusable cartridge incorporates color-coded identification features that provide visual information about brewing parameters. The color indicia system allows the coffee maker to detect brewing requirements through optical means while maintaining compatibility with reusable cartridges, combining automatic detection with versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS9907425B2Reusable brewing cartridge

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 RIVERA ADRIAN

AI summary

A reusable brewing cartridge includes a lid having a permanent injection nozzle passage and includes an extraction nozzle pocket permanently open at the top of the cartridge allowing use in a coffee maker configured to puncture a single use disposable cartridge lid with both the injection and extraction nozzles. The cartridge thus avoids puncturing contact with the extraction needle. The reusable brewing cartridge includes at least one passage in a cartridge base allowing brewed drink to escape the reusable brewing cartridge into a coffee container.