Turkish Coffee Machine Boiling Control by Settling-Time Level Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines fail to maintain consistent quality in preparing Turkish coffee due to faulty level measurements caused by unmixed ingredients like milk and sugar, leading to incorrect boiling termination, resulting in either over- or under-boiling depending on the mixture quantity.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a control unit that measures the initial mixture height after a predetermined settling duration, using a level sensor to adjust the froth rising level based on the quantity of coffee being made, allowing different settling and froth rising values for each coffee program to ensure accurate boiling termination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the infrared level sensor is used to detect the initial level of the mixture, then the boiling process can be controlled, but the measurement becomes faulty when ingredients like milk and sugar remain unmixed and float above the mixture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a settling time period before the level sensor takes its initial measurement. During this settling time, the unmixed ingredients (milk and sugar) are allowed to mix and settle into the water, ensuring that the initial level measurement is taken when the mixture is homogeneous and the sensor reading is accurate. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the mixture in advance before measurement occurs.
2Device complexity
If the same froth rising value is used for all mixture quantities, then the control system is simple, but the coffee quality varies with different serving sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the froth rising value dynamic rather than static. Different froth rising values are assigned based on the detected initial mixture level, which corresponds to different serving sizes. For example, a larger initial level (more water) allows for a larger froth rising value, while a smaller initial level uses a smaller froth rising value. This dynamic adjustment ensures consistent coffee quality across different quantities without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of froth rising value based on the initial mixture level. By detecting the initial level with the sensor and selecting different froth rising values from a set of predetermined values, the system adapts the boiling control parameters to match the serving size. This parameter change approach maintains coffee quality consistency while keeping the control system relatively simple.
3Ease of operation
If the boiling process is terminated at a fixed froth height, then the process is easy to control, but over-boiling occurs for small quantities and under-boiling for large quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the termination parameter (froth rising value) based on the initial conditions (mixture level). Instead of using a fixed froth height for all cases, the system selects different froth rising values from a predetermined set corresponding to different initial levels. This ensures that the boiling process is terminated at the appropriate moment for each serving size, achieving accurate boiling termination while maintaining ease of operation through automated parameter selection.
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
Enables the preparation of Turkish coffee with consistent quality across varying quantities by accurately measuring the mixture height and adjusting the boiling process, preventing over- or under-boiling, thus ensuring each amount of coffee is cooked to the right consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a level sensor (4) of the infrared or ultrasonic type that detects the rising of the froth during boiling
Implementation Method 2
a heater (3) for heating the boiling pot (2) for a determined period of boiling time
Implementation Method 3
implementing the boiling process of this liquid therein
Implementation Method 4
the boiling process is started by selecting the coffee cooking program according to the number of cups intended to be served
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a coffee machine (1) which is designed by inspiration from traditional preparation methods, that makes Turkish coffee in accordance with its traditional flavor and consistency in a short period of time and in desired amounts, which is suitable for use in households and particularly in crowded places such as hotels, restaurants or cafes, wherein one or more boiling pots (2) are heated by a heater (3), adjusting the adequate richness of the foam by the foam level sensor (4), thus preparing different amounts of coffee and maintaining the same quality.