Single serve beverage dispenser for an appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single serve beverage dispensers face difficulties in properly inserting or removing brew pods, accessing brew pods for cleaning, and maintaining hygiene due to complex electronic systems and permanent affixation of brew modules, which restricts user interaction and cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispensing assembly with a rotatable lid, rail, and contact pin that allows for easy access to the brew chamber, supports sliding attachment to the appliance, and includes a distributor plate with apertures for water distribution, enabling secure, removable, and cleanable brew module design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stationary upper needle extends from a pivotally attached lid to pierce the brew pod, then liquid flow through the brew pod is enabled, but the brew pod becomes difficult to remove due to interference fit between the needle and brew pod
Solution Approach 1:
The upper needle is changed from a stationary component to a movable one that can be retracted. The needle assembly includes a needle carrier that can move the needle between an extended position (for piercing the brew pod) and a retracted position (for allowing easy removal of the brew pod). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the needle structure adaptable to different operational phases.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the brew module is permanently affixed to the appliance, then structural stability is improved, but cleaning access to the brew chamber and needles is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing system is divided into separable components: the brew module (containing the brew chamber and needles) and the appliance body. The brew module can be detached from the appliance, allowing users to easily access and clean the brew chamber and needles. When not in use, the brew module can be removed for thorough cleaning, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and cleaning accessibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex electronic systems are used to ensure proper brew pod insertion, then insertion accuracy is improved, but device complexity and potential damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brew module is designed with self-aligning features that guide the brew pod into the correct position without requiring complex electronic control systems. The structural design of the brew chamber and pod interface enables automatic alignment and proper insertion through mechanical guidance, simplifying the device while maintaining insertion accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.