Stepper-Driven Pinch Valve for Hygienic Beverage Flow Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines, such as espresso machines, face challenges with solenoid valves being heavy, expensive, and sensitive to contamination, requiring continuous power and leading to heating issues, while pinch valves are less sensitive but lack versatility in fluid distribution and flow control.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pinch valve with a linearly or rotary-operating actuating mechanism, utilizing a stepper motor drive with squish wedges or an eccentric disc, allowing for versatile fluid passage control and metering, reducing contamination sensitivity and energy consumption, and enabling hygienic operation with space and cost savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solenoid valves are used for fluid control, then reliable switching function is achieved, but the device becomes heavy, expensive, and sensitive to contamination with continuous power requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic solenoid valve with a mechanically actuated pinch valve using a cam mechanism. The cam is rotated by a stepper motor to mechanically open or close the hose, eliminating the need for continuous electromagnetic power and reducing sensitivity to fluid contamination while maintaining reliable switching function.
2Reliability
If solenoid valves are used for fluid control, then reliable switching function is achieved, but contamination sensitivity and heating issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic solenoid valve with a mechanically actuated pinch valve using a cam mechanism. The cam is rotated by a stepper motor to mechanically open or close the hose, eliminating the need for continuous electromagnetic power and reducing sensitivity to fluid contamination while maintaining reliable switching function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pinch valve is used to reduce contamination sensitivity, then hygienic operation is improved, but fluid distribution versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the basic pinch valve by integrating a cam mechanism with multiple positioning capabilities. The cam can be rotated to different angles by the stepper motor, enabling the single pinch valve to control multiple fluid paths (coffee outlet, cappuccino outlet, steam, hot water) and perform both switching and proportional mixing functions, thus achieving multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static pinch valve into a dynamic system by adding a rotatable cam mechanism driven by a stepper motor. This allows the valve to dynamically adjust between different positions (fully open, fully closed, intermediate positions) and control multiple fluid paths, providing versatility in fluid distribution while maintaining the hygienic benefits of pinch valve design.
4Force
If stepper motor with cam mechanism is used, then device complexity increases, but actuating force and switching path are improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a stepper motor that can be held currentless in positioned states, applying actuating force only during switching transitions rather than continuously. This partial action reduces energy consumption and allows the use of a relatively simple cam mechanism to achieve the required actuating force and switching path without excessive complexity.
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 solution results in a lighter, cheaper, and more hygienic beverage preparation machine with enhanced fluid distribution and flow control capabilities, allowing for precise metering and switching of fluid streams, suitable for various beverages like coffee, water, steam, or milk, with the ability to maintain fluid flow without continuous power.
Implementation Method 1
a linearly operating actuating mechanism with a stepping motor drive is used. In the case of the linearly operating actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism then advantageously contains one or more squish wedges. In the case of the rotary operating actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism then advantageously contains at least one eccentric disc.
Implementation Method 2
In the case of the linearly operating actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism then advantageously contains one or more squish wedges. In the case of the rotary operating actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism then advantageously contains at least one eccentric disc.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A beverage preparation machine has at least one pinch valve (1) in the fluid line system, wherein the pinch valve (1) has at least two fluid passage lines (20, 21) and is designed to execute valve and/or control functions on the fluid passage lines (20, 21). The operating mechanism of the pinch valve (1) is set up for coupled activation of the valve and/or control functions and a drive with a stepper motor (25) is provided.