Sliding Drip Tray Basin for Quiet, Flexible Drink Infusion Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines face challenges in efficiently collecting liquids from containers of varying sizes and in reducing vibrations and noise caused by vibrating pumps, leading to inconvenient use and acoustic disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A machine design featuring a sliding, integral basin that remains part of the machine, allowing for easy adaptation to different container sizes and reducing vibrations by providing multiple support points and a single-piece, grid-free basin that houses the liquid, thereby minimizing noise and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the basin is made removable from the machine, then it can be drained and cleaned easily, but it risks misplacement and increases the size of the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The basin is designed to be movable along a sliding path between a deployed position (for cleaning access) and a retracted position (for compact storage). This dynamic positioning allows the basin to be easily removed for cleaning while automatically returning to its correct position, eliminating misplacement risks and reducing machine footprint.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the basin is extended to accommodate larger containers, then larger containers can be used, but the machine size increases and liquid collection becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The basin extends horizontally only when needed (in deployed position) to accommodate various container sizes, then retracts into the machine body to maintain a compact footprint. This dynamic extension allows the machine to adapt to different container dimensions without permanently increasing its size.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the basin vertically or in multiple directions, the invention uses horizontal sliding movement along a single axis to accommodate different container sizes. This one-dimensional sliding approach minimizes the space required while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the basin rotates to accommodate different container heights, then container versatility is improved, but liquid pouring and control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The basin slides horizontally along a guided path rather than rotating, maintaining a stable horizontal orientation throughout movement. This sliding mechanism keeps the basin's bottom surface parallel to the support surface, ensuring proper liquid collection and flow control while accommodating different container heights through positional adjustment.
4Device complexity
If the basin is fixed in position, then the machine structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate containers of variable heights
Solution Approach 1:
The basin is designed with sliding mobility along a horizontal path, allowing it to adjust its position according to container height requirements. This simple sliding mechanism adds minimal structural complexity while significantly improving the machine's adaptability to various container sizes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a machine (1) for preparing drinks by means of infusion, comprising a sliding drip tray (4). The machine (1) is designed to have a deployed position in which the drip tray (4) can support a container (20, 20a) intended to receive the drink and a retracted position in which the drip tray (4) is housed at least partially inside the body (1a) of the machine (1), said machine (1) being designed such as to move from the deployed position to the retracted position and vice versa by means of sliding.