Spindle Brewing Unit Layout for Compact Coffee Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automatic coffee machines have unwieldy dimensions due to complex pivoting mechanisms in their spindle brewing units, which require simultaneous movement and vertical travel for pivoting, resulting in increased size and height.
Innovation Solution
The spindle brewing unit's movement is decoupled into sequential, independent pivoting and displacement, allowing the brewing chamber to pivot and move in separate planes without overlapping, using a guide device that includes elements for torque deflection and separate drives to reduce mechanical resistance and overall height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the brewing chamber is designed to pivot and move simultaneously using a complex pivoting mechanism, then the brewing chamber can be positioned correctly, but the machine dimensions become unwieldy and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the brewing chamber's movement into two independent sequential movements: first pivoting the brewing chamber about a pivot axis, then moving it along the spindle axis. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex simultaneous pivoting mechanisms, reducing machine dimensions while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic sequence where the brewing chamber first pivots to an intermediate position, then moves vertically. The guide device dynamically controls this sequence, allowing the brewing chamber to transition smoothly between positions without requiring complex mechanical linkages for simultaneous movement.
2Ease of operation
If the brewing chamber requires vertical travel for pivoting, then the pivoting mechanism can function, but the spindle length and overall machine height increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the pivoting and vertical moving functions into distinct sequential steps. The brewing chamber pivots horizontally to an intermediate position first, then moves vertically. This eliminates the need for the brewing chamber to travel vertically during pivoting, reducing the required spindle length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of the pivoting movement from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane. By pivoting the brewing chamber sideways to an intermediate position rather than vertically, the spindle can be shorter while still enabling complete pivoting functionality.
3Productivity
If the brewing chamber moves and pivots simultaneously, then the brewing process can be executed, but the mechanical complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the brewing chamber's motion into two independent phases: pivoting phase and vertical moving phase. The guide device controls each phase separately, simplifying the mechanical linkage requirements while maintaining the ability to execute the complete brewing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a dynamic sequential control system where the brewing chamber first pivots to an intermediate position, then moves vertically for brewing. This dynamic sequencing reduces mechanical complexity by eliminating the need for complex simultaneous multi-degree-of-freedom linkages.
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
This design reduces the vertical travel path of the brewing chamber, shortening the spindle and machine height, enabling more space-efficient integration of components and easier maintenance, while minimizing energy consumption and mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded spindle for driving the brewing chamber in a mounting frame
Implementation Method 2
the guide device can include elements for torque deflection, such as a link or a gear, which deflects a rotation of the spindle into a translation and/or a rotation of the brewing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fully automatic coffee machine (1) comprising a spindle brewing unit (3) with a brewing chamber (5) and a threaded spindle (7) for driving the brewing chamber (5), wherein the brewing chamber (5) is mounted such that it can be pivoted in a pivoting plane (S) orthogonal to a spindle axis (A) and moved in a travel direction (FA, FE) parallel to the spindle axis (A). A guide device (13, 15) is essential here, which sequentially effects the pivoting (RA, RE) of the brewing chamber (5) on the one hand and the movement (FA, FE) of the brewing chamber (5) on the other.