Single-Cup Brew Module With Inclined Nozzle Agitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee brewing systems are inefficient as they often result in coffee waste, inconsistent flavor, and require significant labor for cleaning and maintenance, with automated single-cup systems needing improvements in brewing time, cleaning efficiency, and coffee bean dosing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A multi-module brewing system with automated dosing, cleaning, and agitation features, including a doser assembly with wiper and piston mechanisms for precise coffee bean delivery and efficient cleaning, and a fan system to prevent steam and condensation from entering the grinder, allowing for rapid brewing and cleaning of a single-cup portion of coffee in under 30 seconds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional batch-type coffee brewing systems are used, then large batches of coffee can be brewed at once, but coffee waste occurs when not all coffee is consumed and flavor consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing system is divided into multiple independent brew groups (first brew group, second brew group, third brew group), each capable of brewing single-cup portions independently. This segmentation allows coffee to be brewed in precise single-serving batches, eliminating waste from unused coffee while maintaining high productivity through parallel operation of multiple groups.
2Loss of substance
If automated single-cup brewing systems are used, then coffee waste is reduced and flavor consistency is improved, but brewing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous operation through multiple brew groups that can work in parallel and sequence. While one group is brewing, another can be preparing or cleaning, ensuring continuous coffee production without idle time. The rapid single-cup brewing process (designed to complete in under 30 seconds) maintains continuous useful action while reducing individual brew time.
3Reliability
If manual cleaning of brewing equipment is performed, then cleaning thoroughness can be maintained, but labor time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing system incorporates automatic cleaning mechanisms including wiper assemblies that self-clean the brewing chamber and piston components after each use. The system performs its own maintenance tasks without requiring manual intervention, achieving thorough cleaning while eliminating labor-intensive cleaning operations. The automatic cleaning cycle ensures reliability through consistent, repeatable cleaning procedures.
4Use of energy by moving object
If steam and condensation are allowed to enter the grinder area, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but coffee quality deteriorates and corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the steam generation area (brewing chamber) from the grinder area through physical isolation and directional airflow design. A baffle structure and controlled air flow extract and redirect steam away from the grinder, preventing moisture damage and corrosion while maintaining heat transfer efficiency in the brewing chamber. This extraction of the harmful steam from the grinder environment resolves the contradiction.
5Productivity
If multiple brew modules are used, then coffee production capacity is increased, but system complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into three independent, identical brew groups, each as a self-contained module with its own doser, brewing chamber, and dispensing mechanism. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing and simplified maintenance, as each module can be serviced independently. The modular design increases production capacity while managing complexity through repetition of proven, standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
All three brew groups use identical components and mechanisms, creating universal parts that can be interchanged between groups. This universality simplifies maintenance and repair, as any component can be replaced with an identical part from another group, reducing the overall complexity of the system despite having multiple brew modules.
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
The system significantly reduces coffee waste, ensures consistent flavor, and minimizes labor by automating the brewing and cleaning processes, enabling faster and more efficient coffee production while maintaining high quality.
Implementation Method 1
A fan is in communication with the exit port and configured to provide airflow through the exit port toward the brewing area. The fan is configured to provide substantially continuous airflow through the exit port of the grinder mechanism during normal operation to substantially prevent steam and moisture generated by the apparatus during a brew cycle from entering the grinder mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for brewing a beverage, the apparatus comprising at least one brew module (50, 500) configured to brew a single-cup portion of a beverage, the at least one brew module comprising a chamber (1210) configured to receive ground material and configured to engage with a nozzle (1222), wherein the nozzle (1222) is configured to be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus such that a face of the nozzle defines an angle between about 5° and 60° with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct liquid to an inner portion of the chamber (1210) during a brew cycle to agitate ground material during the brew cycle.