Powdered cake making cake device and control method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of coffee brewing equipment, in particular to a pressed powder cake making device and a control method thereof, the device comprising: a driving mechanism; a pressing assembly, the pressing assembly comprising a rotating lower pressing head and a transmission rod; a self-adaptive adjusting member; a third signal switch for detecting the powder contact state of the rotating lower pressing head; a control unit electrically connected with the driving mechanism and the third signal switch; the driving mechanism drives the transmission rod to rotate and drives the rotating lower pressing head to move downward along the axial direction, and the rotating lower pressing head rotates to spread the powder when contacting the coffee powder; when the axial resistance received by the rotating lower pressing head reaches a preset threshold, the self-adaptive adjusting member generates displacement buffering, and the powder contact signal reaching the preset threshold is transmitted to the control unit through the third signal switch, and the control unit controls the driving mechanism to drive the pressing assembly to perform the operation configured according to the set requirements. The present application can solve the technical problem that the existing pressed powder device cannot adaptively match different amounts of coffee powder, resulting in uneven compaction effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of coffee brewing equipment technology, and in particular to a coffee maker and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] In the extraction process of espresso, the evenness of the coffee grounds distribution and the compaction density are key factors determining the extraction quality and consistency of taste. Currently, most coffee tamping equipment on the market relies on mechanical transmission with a fixed axial stroke or manual pressing with a fixed pressure. However, in practical use, the amount of coffee grounds used for single-cup and double-cup extractions differs significantly (e.g., 8-10 grams for a single cup and 16-20 grams for a double cup), and the loose volume of coffee grounds varies depending on the roast level or grind size. Existing tamping equipment struggles to adapt to the compaction requirements of different grounds, easily leading to insufficient compaction when the grounds are too small and excessive compaction when the grounds are too large, thus causing extraction channel effects or uneven tamping density. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention proposes a tamping and pressing device and its control method, which can solve the technical problem that the existing tamping equipment cannot adaptively match different amounts of coffee powder, resulting in uneven compaction effect.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: This invention provides a coffee maker, comprising: a drive mechanism; a pressing assembly including a rotating pressing head and a transmission rod connected to the rotating pressing head; an adaptive adjustment component; a third signal switch for detecting the coffee powder contact state of the rotating pressing head; and a control unit electrically connected to the drive mechanism and the third signal switch. The drive mechanism drives the transmission rod to rotate and drives the rotating pressing head to move axially downwards. When the rotating pressing head contacts the coffee powder, it performs a rotating pressing action. When the axial resistance experienced by the rotating pressing head reaches a preset threshold, the adaptive adjustment component generates an adaptive displacement buffer and transmits a coffee powder contact signal (reaching the preset threshold) to the control unit via the third signal switch. The control unit controls the drive mechanism to drive the pressing assembly to perform operations configured according to set requirements based on the coffee powder contact signal.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the driving mechanism includes a drive motor, a first transmission gear, a lead screw, and a suspension component. The output end of the drive motor is provided with a first transmission gear, which meshes with a lead screw gear provided on the lead screw. The other end of the lead screw and the transmission rod are connected through the suspension component. The drive motor drives the lead screw to rotate, thereby causing the transmission rod to move axially.

[0006] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the driving mechanism further includes a second transmission gear, the transmission rod passes through the second transmission gear, and the transmission rod and the second transmission gear are in a limiting fit. The output end of the drive motor is connected to the transmission rod through the second transmission gear, thereby driving the transmission rod to rotate.

[0007] A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a gearbox, in which a first transmission gear and a second transmission gear are disposed.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the adaptive adjustment component includes a movable push rod and an elastic component. The suspension component has a through-part, and the through-part also has a buffer groove for accommodating the elastic component. The through-part passes through the movable push rod and slides with the movable push rod. One end of the elastic component abuts against the movable push rod, and the other end of the elastic component extends into the buffer groove. During the powder pressing process, when the axial resistance exceeds the preset elastic force of the elastic component, the rotating pressing head stops or slows down its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotational powder pressing.

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that an axial powder distribution buffer is provided between the other end of the elastic element and the top of the buffer groove. During the powder pressing process, the elastic element is displaced in the direction of the powder distribution buffer until the other end of the elastic element abuts against the top of the buffer groove.

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that a powder-spreading scraper is provided on the bottom surface of the rotating pressure head. The powder-spreading scraper includes a triangular double-sloping structure formed by the intersection of two inclined surfaces, with the two inclined surfaces extending in opposite directions. The angle of entry of each inclined surface is greater than 5° and less than 60°, and the total drop of each inclined surface is greater than 2mm and less than 10mm. When the rotating pressure head rotates, the powder-spreading scraper spreads the coffee powder radially and circumferentially through the rotational pushing force.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the third signal switch is installed on the suspension component, and the third signal switch is triggered when the movable push rod moves upward relative to the suspension component during the powder pressing process.

[0012] The present invention provides a control method for a dough pressing and forming device. The dough pressing and forming device using the above-mentioned technical solution includes the following steps: S0 controls the fabric pressing assembly to move downwards and controls the rotating pressing head of the fabric pressing assembly to rotate. S1, during the downward movement, the powder contact status of the rotating pressing head is detected by the adaptive adjustment component; S2, when the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head stops or slows down its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotating powder pressing; S3, Once the fabric compaction component reaches the preset parameters, compaction is complete; S4 controls the fabric pressing assembly to rotate in reverse and lift up to reset.

[0013] The 'preset parameters' mentioned in the above technical solution refer to a set of one or more process indicators preset in the control unit for determining the completion of tamping. These process indicators are selected from any one or a combination of the following: tamping duration, cumulative number of rotations of the drive mechanism, compression displacement of the adaptive adjuster, and axial position change of the rotating tamping head. The specific values ​​of each of these indicators can be preset and stored in the control unit according to the coffee powder type, quantity, and extraction formula.

[0014] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is that, before the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head applies powder at a first rotation speed; after the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head switches to a second rotation speed to apply powder.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention coordinates the rotation of the coffee powder distribution with the downward pressing action, and combines an adaptive adjustment mechanism and a third signal switch. This allows the pressing head to automatically absorb excess axial travel based on the measured resistance after contacting the coffee powder. It also makes the pressing operation highly configurable and flexible, adaptable to various coffee powder conditions, and meets the process requirements of different scenarios while ensuring uniform compaction density. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 The three-dimensional representation of the powder pressing and cake making device of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 The three-dimensional representation of the powder pressing and cake making device of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a top view of the powder pressing and cake making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of part A; Figure 6 This is a partial perspective view of the shaped cake pressing and making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, omitting the gear box cover; Figure 7 This is a partial perspective view of the housing of the powder pressing and cake making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, omitting the movable push rod portion; Figure 8 A perspective view of the fabric pressing assembly according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 9 A perspective view of the movable push rod in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections of the powder pressing and cake making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the use of the powder pressing and cake making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the use of the powder pressing and cake making device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0018] In the picture: 1-Drive mechanism; 11-Drive motor; 12-First transmission gear; 13-Screw; 14-Suspension component; 141-Passing part; 142-Buffer groove; 15-Second transmission gear; 2-Paper application assembly; 21-Rotating lower pressure head; 211-Paper application scraper; 212-Inclined surface; 22-Transmission rod; 3-Adaptive adjustment component; 31-Modular push rod; 311-Slide groove; 32-Elastic component; 4-Gear box; 5-Paper application buffer zone; 6-Control unit; 71-First signal switch; 72-Second signal switch; 73-Third signal switch; 74-Pressure sensor; 8-Paper bowl; 81-Coffee powder; 9-Safety spring. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Example 1 This embodiment provides a device for pressing and making dough cakes, such as... Figure 1-12 As shown, where, Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating the usage state of the pressure assembly 2 before it comes into contact with the coffee grounds during the downward motion. Figure 12This is a schematic diagram showing the coffee maker's application state during the downward movement of the pressing assembly 2. The maker includes: a drive mechanism 1; a pressing assembly 2, which includes a rotating pressing head 21 and a transmission rod 22 connected to the rotating pressing head 21; an adaptive adjustment component 3; a third signal switch 73 for detecting the coffee powder contact state of the rotating pressing head 21; and a control unit 6 electrically connected to the drive mechanism 1 and the third signal switch 73. The drive mechanism 1 rotates the transmission rod 22 and drives the rotating pressing head 21 to move axially downwards. The rotating pressing head 21 rotates and distributes the coffee powder upon contact. When the axial resistance experienced by the rotating pressing head 21 reaches a preset threshold, the adaptive adjustment component 3 generates an adaptive displacement buffer and transmits a coffee powder contact signal (reaching the preset threshold) to the control unit 6 via the third signal switch 73. The control unit 6 then controls the drive mechanism 1 to drive the pressing assembly 2 to perform operations configured according to set requirements based on the coffee powder contact signal. The root cause of the difficulty in adapting existing tamping equipment to different coffee powder amounts lies in the fact that its tamping stroke or tamping force is usually preset based on a certain standard powder amount. When the actual powder amount deviates from this standard, a mismatch inevitably occurs between the axial displacement provided by the drive mechanism and the actual compression required by the powder. When the powder amount is too small, the rotating tamping head cannot apply sufficient compaction energy to the powder at the end of the stroke; when the powder amount is too large, the rotating tamping head encounters excessive resistance exceeding the output capacity of the drive mechanism or the structural strength of the powder before reaching the preset end point. To address this mechanistic deficiency, the technical solution of this embodiment introduces an adaptive adjustment component between the drive mechanism and the rotating tamping head, and links the response characteristics of this adaptive adjustment component with the tamping operation startup logic through a control unit. When the rotating tamping head descends and contacts the coffee powder, the powder generates an upward axial reaction force on the rotating tamping head, and this reaction force increases as the rotating tamping head further penetrates the powder. During this process, the rotation of the rotating pressing head continues uninterrupted. The powder distribution structure at its bottom redistributes the powder particles horizontally through rotational pushing, preventing localized powder accumulation in the area directly below the rotating pressing head. Before the reaction force increases to a preset threshold, almost all the axial displacement output by the drive mechanism is transmitted to the rotating pressing head, causing it to continuously advance the powder for compaction. Once the reaction force reaches the preset threshold, it indicates that the powder has been compressed to an acceptable density for the current powder quantity. If further displacement is input into the powder, it will lead to overpressure. At this point, the adaptive adjustment component begins to undergo compressive deformation to absorb at least part of the axial displacement output by the drive mechanism. This allows the rotating pressing head to maintain a pressure no higher than the preset threshold while no longer penetrating the powder. However, the rotating powder distribution action is not interrupted during this process to maintain a continuous smoothing effect on the powder surface.Since the preset threshold is a fixed force value, regardless of the initial powder quantity, the maximum axial force applied to the powder by the rotating pressing head is limited to the same level. The difference between different powder quantities is transformed into a difference in the compression amount of the adaptive adjustment component—when the powder quantity is large, the rotating pressing head touches the threshold at a higher position, and the compression amount of the adjustment component is small; when the powder quantity is small, the rotating pressing head needs to travel a greater distance to compress the powder to the density that generates the threshold reaction force, and the compression amount of the adjustment component is correspondingly larger. The technical solution of this embodiment further sets up a third signal switch. When the adaptive adjustment component reaches the preset threshold due to axial resistance, the adaptive adjustment component and its linked components generate relative displacement. This relative displacement directly changes the physical state of the third signal switch, thereby generating a powder contact signal. The generation of this signal does not depend on the software analysis of the force curve or the calculation of the stroke position, but is directly driven by the physical event of the adaptive adjustment component reaching its designed compression state. Therefore, its timing is consistent with the moment when the rotating pressing head actually touches the preset threshold pressure, and the rotating powder distribution has completed the horizontal pre-arrangement of the powder particles when the signal is generated. Upon receiving the signal, the control unit determines that the powder has been compressed to a density state corresponding to a preset threshold. It then controls the drive mechanism to execute subsequent operations configured according to the set requirements. For example, it may maintain the current rotating tamping state for a predetermined time to allow the powder particles to relax under constant pressure and continuous shearing; or it may control the rotating tamping head to rise and then press down again (or press down multiple times) to eliminate elastic rebound and density gradient within the powder cake; or it may not stop the rotating tamping head from moving downwards axially, but instead reduce the axial feed speed while switching the rotation speed to a second speed, until the cumulative number of rotations of the drive mechanism reaches a preset value and then stops. It should be noted that the control unit in this embodiment has multiple pre-stored tamping operation modes. The operator can select one of these modes through the human-machine interface based on the type of coffee powder, grind size, target powder quantity, or extraction formula. Each of the above operation modes uses the triggering of the powder contact signal as the starting condition, and subsequent actions (including but not limited to rotation speed, axial feed speed, holding time, secondary pressing stroke, and the number of times the head is raised and then pressed down) can be configured independently. Therefore, the 'operation configured according to set requirements' in this embodiment covers all controllable compaction processes that use powder contact signals as trigger events and compaction components as execution objects. During this process, the rotational movement of the lower pressure head can be selected to continue or stop to adapt to the needs of different compaction strategies. In the above scheme, the adaptive adjustment component unifies the final compaction pressure by converting different powder amounts into different compression amounts. The third signal switch transmits the moment when this unified pressure is achieved to the control unit in the form of an electrical signal in real time, so that the switching between different compaction stages is strictly based on the achievement of the actual compaction state. At the same time, the rotating powder distribution action participates in the particle rearrangement of the powder throughout the entire process, so that the adaptability of the entire compaction operation no longer depends on powder amount detection or stroke prediction, but is entirely based on the real-time feedback of the powder's own mechanical response.

[0021] Preferably, the drive mechanism 1 includes a drive motor 11, a first transmission gear 12, a lead screw 13, and a suspension member 14. The output end of the drive motor 11 is provided with the first transmission gear 12, which meshes with the lead screw gear provided on the lead screw 13. The other end of the lead screw 13 is connected to the transmission rod 22 through the suspension member 14. The drive motor 11 drives the lead screw 13 to rotate, thereby causing the transmission rod 22 to move axially. Specifically, the output torque of the drive motor is transmitted to the lead screw gear fixed to the lead screw via the first transmission gear. Through gear meshing, the high-speed rotation of the motor is reduced and the torque is increased to drive the lead screw to rotate. The rotational motion of the lead screw is converted into the axial linear movement of the transmission rod through its threaded pair. The suspension member, as an intermediate component connecting the lead screw and the transmission rod, undertakes the function of transmitting axial force. Compared to linear drive methods such as cylinders or electromagnets, the advantages of this gear-screw transmission configuration are as follows: The lead of the screw is fixed, ensuring a definite correspondence between the axial displacement of the transmission rod and the rotation angle of the drive motor. This provides a stable displacement-force conversion benchmark for the threshold setting of the subsequent adaptive adjustment mechanism. Simultaneously, the reduction effect of the gear pair amplifies the output torque of the drive motor, ensuring that even when axial resistance increases significantly in the later stages of powder pressing, the drive mechanism still has sufficient driving force reserve to maintain the continuous rotation of the lower pressing head, preventing interruption of powder distribution due to insufficient torque. This suspension effectively constrains the rotational motion of the screw into the axial motion of the transmission rod, and when the transmission rod is subjected to non-axial off-center loads, it absorbs some radial disturbances through its elasticity or clearance, preventing these disturbances from being transmitted back to the screw thread pair, thus protecting the screw and gear from additional bending moment damage.

[0022] Furthermore, the drive mechanism 1 also includes a second transmission gear 15, through which the transmission rod 22 passes, and the transmission rod 22 and the second transmission gear 15 are in a limiting fit. The output end of the drive motor 11 is connected to the transmission rod 22 through the second transmission gear 15, thereby driving the transmission rod 22 to rotate. Based on the existing axial feed transmission chain, the drive mechanism adds a second transmission gear to construct an independent rotational drive path. The transmission rod passes axially through the central hole of the second transmission gear, and a limiting fit is formed between the transmission rod and the second transmission gear. This limiting fit specifically refers to the circumferential fixation between the outer peripheral wall of the transmission rod and the inner hole wall of the second transmission gear through keyways, splines, or polygonal cross-sections. The output end of the drive motor transmits rotational power to the transmission rod through the second transmission gear, thereby driving the transmission rod to rotate around its own axis. This independent rotational path is kinematically decoupled from the aforementioned axial feed path; that is, the drive motor can apply rotational motion and axial thrust to the transmission rod through two different gear transmission chains, and the two motions, superimposed on the transmission rod, do not interfere with each other. The core advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that the rotational speed and axial feed speed of the rotating pressing head can be independently adjusted according to process requirements, avoiding the need to adhere to a fixed speed-feed ratio due to sharing the same drive chain. Simultaneously, because axial relative sliding is allowed between the drive rod and the second drive gear, when the adaptive adjustment component causes displacement buffering, resulting in the drive rod retracting or stopping axially, the rotational power will not be interrupted due to axial displacement. This ensures that the rotating pressing head can always obtain continuous rotational driving force throughout the entire powder compaction process (including the buffering stage), thus continuing to apply a smoothing and powder-distributing effect to the powder surface even after axial advancement stops. Furthermore, separating the rotational drive and axial drive into two separate gear chains allows for independent optimization of their respective transmission ratios. For example, the rotational chain can use a smaller reduction ratio to achieve a higher speed, while the axial chain can use a larger reduction ratio to achieve greater thrust. This differentiated design can simultaneously meet the high speed requirements of the powder distribution stage and the large thrust requirements of the compaction stage without requiring a compromise design for a single drive chain.

[0023] Preferably, the drive mechanism includes a gearbox 4, within which a first transmission gear 12 and a second transmission gear 15 are housed. This gearbox is essentially a closed or semi-closed housing with a predetermined internal contour and mounting surfaces. It contains bearing seats or shaft holes to support each gear shaft system, and each gear is mounted on its corresponding axis within the box according to the designed meshing relationship. The introduction of the gearbox integrates gear pairs that were originally distributed throughout the drive mechanism into a rigid frame. The primary improvement is that it ensures that the center distance and meshing clearance between the gears are no longer affected by deformation or vibration of the external mounting base after assembly. Because the gearbox's machining accuracy and rigidity provide a uniform positioning reference for all gears, it ensures that the meshing between gears remains within the optimal design range, reducing excessive or excessively tight tooth flank clearances caused by assembly errors, thereby reducing impact loads and noise during gear transmission. Meanwhile, the outer wall of the gearbox can prevent external coffee powder dust, moisture and other impurities from entering the gear meshing area. Because there are inevitably flying fine powder particles in the tamping working environment, if these particles enter the gear tooth gap, they will not only aggravate the wear of the tooth surface, but may also change the equivalent meshing stiffness of the gear pair, causing instantaneous fluctuations in the rotational speed transmitted to the transmission rod. The sealing structure of the gearbox effectively blocks this contamination path.

[0024] Preferably, the adaptive adjustment component 3 includes a movable push rod 31 and an elastic component 32. The suspension component 14 has a through portion 141, and the through portion 141 also has a buffer groove 142 for accommodating the elastic component. The through portion 141 passes through the movable push rod 31 and slides with it. One end of the elastic component 32 abuts against the movable push rod 31, and the other end of the elastic component 32 extends into the buffer groove 142. During the powder pressing process, when the axial resistance exceeds the preset elastic force of the elastic component, the rotating pressing head 21 stops or slows down its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotational powder pressing. This further preferred embodiment adopts a combination of a movable push rod and an elastic component in the specific construction of the adaptive adjustment component, and integrates this combination into the through portion and buffer groove provided inside the suspension component. This structural arrangement has significant process advantages compared to other elastic buffering methods. The movable push rod 31 is provided with a groove 311, and the through part 141 is an outward extension structure on the suspension member 14 that passes through the groove 311. The through part 141 and the groove 311 form a sliding fit pair. This fit pair provides full-range guidance and constraint for the axial movement of the movable push rod, ensuring that the movable push rod moves only along the preset axis direction when subjected to axial force, avoiding lateral bending of the elastic element or additional friction with surrounding components due to radial offset. The buffer groove is a groove provided at the bottom of the through part with the opening facing downward. Its function is to accommodate the main body of the elastic element and provide a restricted space for the compression deformation of the elastic element. One end of the elastic element abuts against the end face of the movable push rod, while the other end extends into the buffer groove. When the axial resistance during tamping has not yet exceeded the preset elastic force of the elastic element, the movable push rod remains stationary relative to the through-part, and the elastic element maintains its initial installation length. The drive mechanism transmits all the axial thrust to the rotating pressing head through a rigid force transmission chain consisting of the suspension, through-part, movable push rod, and transmission rod. Once the axial resistance of the rotating pressing head increases to exceed the preset elastic force of the elastic element, the movable push rod overcomes the resistance of the elastic element and slides axially relative to the through-part. This sliding simultaneously pushes one end of the elastic element towards the inside of the buffer groove, compressing the elastic element within the axial range of the buffer groove. The amount of compression of the elastic element is equal to the relative displacement between the movable push rod and the through-part. Specifically, in this embodiment, the elastic element is a spring. Testing shows that the working load of the rotating pressing head on the coffee puck is ≥147N (approximately 15kgf), and the working load corresponding to the elastic element's structural design is between 2.5-10N.

[0025] Preferably, an axial powder distribution buffer zone 5 is provided between the other end of the elastic element 32 and the top of the buffer groove 142. During the tamping process, the elastic element 32 is displaced towards the powder distribution buffer zone 5 until the other end of the elastic element 32 abuts against the top of the buffer groove 142. A further preferred embodiment is that an axial gap is intentionally reserved between the other end of the elastic element and the top of the buffer groove. This gap is defined as the powder distribution buffer zone. Its physical meaning is that before the rotating tamping head experiences significant axial resistance, the drive rod can descend along with the elastic element without the elastic element contacting the top of the buffer groove. Specifically, when the tamping process begins, the rotating tamping head first contacts the coffee powder surface. At this time, the axial resistance is small, and the drive mechanism pushes the suspension member downwards via the lead screw. Because of the powder distribution buffer zone between the top of the buffer groove and the elastic element, the movable push rod first needs to travel this distance before the elastic element abuts against the top of the buffer groove. During this travel distance, the suspension member connected to the drive rod is not actually subjected to an upward thrust from the elastic element. The existence of this powder distribution buffer naturally separates the rotary powder distribution action from the axial compaction action in terms of timing: before the buffer is completely eliminated, the pressure head only performs rotary powder distribution without generating effective axial compressive force, thus effectively optimizing the problem of local uneven density caused by strong compaction before the powder is evenly spread; when the suspension continues to move down until the top of its buffer groove abuts against the elastic element, the elastic element begins to transmit axial pressure, and the compaction process starts. The advantage of this timing separation is that in the initial stage, the powder particles are in a loosely packed state. If axial pressure is applied directly, the powder will preferentially form a high-density area in a local area (directly below the center of the pressure head), while the density in the surrounding area is lower. Even if pressure is continued, it is difficult to completely eliminate this unevenness. However, after sufficient rotary powder distribution to evenly spread the powder radially and circumferentially, axial pressure is applied, resulting in a relatively uniform initial packing density for the entire powder layer. The subsequent compression process can produce a more uniform density distribution. Furthermore, the length of the powder distribution buffer can be set according to the required powder distribution time. This means that the interval between contact with the powder and the start of compaction can be controlled by adjusting the axial dimension of the gap. This provides a convenient means of process adjustment for coffee powders of different qualities or cup sizes without modifying the control program. Therefore, this powder distribution buffer scheme optimizes the sequence of powder distribution and compaction by introducing a controllable delay, further improving the density uniformity of the final coffee puck. In this embodiment, a powder distribution buffer with a height of 5mm is provided.

[0026] Preferably, the bottom surface of the rotating pressure head 21 is provided with a powder distribution scraper 211. The powder distribution scraper 211 includes a triangular double-sloping structure formed by the intersection of two inclined surfaces 212. The two inclined surfaces extend in opposite directions. The angle of entry of each inclined surface is greater than 5° and less than 60°, and the total drop of each inclined surface is greater than 2mm and less than 10mm. When the rotating pressure head 21 rotates, the powder distribution scraper 211 spreads the coffee powder radially and circumferentially through the rotational pushing force. The coffee powder scraper consists of two inclined planes extending in opposite directions. When the rotating pressure head rotates around its own axis, each inclined plane moves relative to the surface of the coffee powder layer. The acute angle between the inclined plane and the horizontal powder surface is the cutting angle. This angle determines the direction of the initial resistance when the tip of the scraper penetrates the powder and the direction of the initial acceleration of the powder particles sliding along the inclined plane. The total drop refers to the vertical distance along the axial direction between the highest and lowest points of the inclined plane. Its physical significance lies in quantifying the actual depth of the scraper's intervention on the thickness of the powder layer within a single rotation cycle. The preferred angle of entry is set to be greater than 5° and less than 60°. The technical considerations are as follows: When the entry angle is less than 5°, the scraper slope tends to be horizontal. During rotation, the scraper mainly applies a horizontal pushing force to the powder. Although this force can cause the surface powder to move, it is difficult to overcome the arch structure formed by particle interlocking inside the powder, resulting in the lower layer of powder being almost undisturbed. The powder distribution effect is limited to a very thin layer on the powder surface. When the entry angle is not less than 60°, the slope is too steep, and the axial reaction force on the scraper during rotation increases sharply. This reaction force applies a significant downward compaction component to the powder in the early stage of powder distribution. This pre-compression effect may generate additional axial resistance before the adaptive adjustment component has completed its stroke buffering, causing the adjustment component to be triggered prematurely, thereby interfering with the original timing coordination between axial compaction and rotational powder distribution. Similarly, the total drop is limited to greater than 2 mm and less than 10 mm. The reason is that a drop of less than 2 mm can only scratch the sharp peaks on the surface of the powder and cannot transfer the pushing effect of the scraper to the middle of the powder layer. This means that the powder near the bottom of the powder pressing container always remains in its initial piled state, and the uniformity of powder distribution cannot be achieved longitudinally along the thickness of the powder layer. A drop of more than 10 mm causes the scraper to penetrate too deeply into the powder layer, generating excessive local shear stress during rotation. This shear stress may not only push the powder from the central area to the edge to form a ring-shaped pile, but also generate additional periodic load fluctuations on the rotating drive chain due to excessive resistance torque. The configuration of the two inclined planes tilting in opposite directions allows the two inclined planes to alternately contact the powder during the continuous unidirectional rotation of the rotating pressing head, and each generates a powder pushing vector in opposite directions. One inclined plane tends to push the powder radially outward, while the other inclined plane tends to push the powder radially inward or circumferentially back. This alternating pushing mode effectively avoids the unidirectional accumulation of powder caused by a single inclined plane, so that the powder achieves a reciprocating kneading homogenization effect in the horizontal plane.

[0027] Specifically, it also includes a first signal switch 71 and a second signal switch 72, both of which are mechanical switches and electrically connected to the controller 6. The first signal switch 71 is an initial detection switch, installed at the coffee portafilter's receiving station, and linked to the coffee portafilter or coffee container to detect whether the receiving container is properly seated. When the receiving container is correctly seated, the first signal switch is triggered, and the system confirms that grinding and tamping operations can begin. The second signal switch 72 is a reset switch, installed on the top of the tamping device or on the movement path of the suspension member 14, and is used to detect whether the rotating lower tamping head 21 is in the initial reset position. When the rotating lower tamping head resets to the top, the second signal switch is triggered, and the system confirms that the tamping mechanism is ready.

[0028] Preferably, the third signal switch 73 is mounted on the suspension member 14. During the powder pressing process, the movable push rod 31 touches the third signal switch 73 when it moves upward relative to the suspension member 14. After setting an adaptive adjustment member between the drive mechanism and the rotating pressing head, the amount of compression deformation generated by the adaptive adjustment member reflects whether the axial resistance borne by the rotating pressing head has reached a preset threshold. Therefore, how to convert this deformation into an electrical signal that can be recognized by the control unit in a simple and direct manner becomes the key link in realizing closed-loop powder pressing control. In this preferred embodiment, the third signal switch is mounted on the suspension member, and the movable push rod moves upward relative to the suspension member to touch the switch when the adaptive adjustment member generates compression deformation. This arrangement has significant structural advantages over the alternative of setting the powder contact detection element at the end of the rotating pressing head or on the transmission rod. From the perspective of force transmission path analysis, the suspension component is located at the power output end of the drive mechanism, while the movable push rod is located at the force input end of the pressure distribution assembly. The relative displacement between the two directly corresponds to the compression amount of the adaptive adjustment component. Therefore, this relative displacement is a direct physical representation of whether the axial resistance reaches the preset threshold. When the axial resistance of the rotating pressure head increases to exceed the preset elastic force of the elastic component, the suspension component continues to descend under the continuous drive of the drive mechanism, while the movable push rod stops descending due to the obstruction of the rotating pressure head. The relative motion direction between the two is that the movable push rod moves upward relative to the suspension component, and this sliding distance strictly corresponds to the additional compression amount of the elastic component. The third signal switch is fixedly installed on the suspension component. The movable push rod, as a trigger element, approaches and touches the switch as it moves relative to the suspension component. This ensures that there is no intermediate transmission link between the triggering action of the switch and the physical event of the elastic component compressing to the preset threshold, avoiding triggering delay or triggering force drift caused by idle travel, elastic deformation, or friction loss introduced by the connecting rod, swing arm, or flexible transmission component. Furthermore, installing the third signal switch on the suspension component provides a reliable support base and a defined detection position, which helps ensure the consistency of the correspondence between the switch trigger electrical position and the preset threshold force value during mass production assembly.

[0029] Preferably, a pressure sensor 74 is also provided on the top of the pressing assembly 2. The pressure sensor 74 is electrically connected to the control unit 6 and is used to collect real-time pressure during the pressing process. A further preferred embodiment involves introducing a control unit and a pressure sensor located on the top of the pressing assembly. The pressure sensor and the control unit are electrically connected to transmit real-time pressure signals, while the control unit is electrically connected to the drive mechanism to send control commands. The pressure sensor is installed at the top of the pressing assembly, specifically at the upper end of the transmission rod or the force transmission interface between the suspension and the transmission rod. It can directly sense the real-time pressure value transmitted axially to the transmission rod during the pressing process. This value reflects the magnitude of the axial force between the rotating pressing head and the powder. The control unit has a preset pressure threshold judgment logic based on process requirements. When the real-time pressure value collected by the pressure sensor reaches or exceeds the preset upper limit, the control unit can issue a deceleration, stop, or reverse command to the drive mechanism based on this signal, thereby adding an electronic protection layer on top of the mechanical buffer provided by the adaptive adjustment component. The reason for prioritizing this solution is that while purely mechanical adaptive adjustment mechanisms can achieve threshold buffering, the amount of buffering depends on the compression characteristics of the elastic element. Different batches of elastic elements may have varying stiffness, and long-term use can lead to fatigue and deterioration, causing the actual buffering threshold to deviate from the design value. With the addition of a pressure sensor, the control unit can continuously monitor the actual pressure. If an abnormal pressure increase is detected (e.g., due to excessive powder quantity, the mechanical buffer is insufficient to fully absorb the displacement), the control unit can actively intervene in the current or speed of the drive motor, limiting its output torque and preventing the drive mechanism from operating under overload conditions for extended periods. Simultaneously, the real-time data provided by the pressure sensor can be used to determine the compaction endpoint. When the pressure value stably reaches the set threshold within a certain range and remains stable for a certain period, the control unit determines that compaction is complete and can automatically control the drive mechanism to rotate in the opposite direction and lift the lower pressure head. This eliminates the need for external limit switches or timers, ensuring that the termination condition for each compaction is based on the actual stress state rather than time or position. This is crucial for achieving consistent compaction under different powder quantities. In addition, the control unit can record the pressure curve for each powder pressing process, which can be used for equipment maintenance diagnosis or powder characteristic analysis to help identify abnormal fluctuations in powder supply.

[0030] Preferably, a safety spring 9 is also included, located within the suspension member 14. One end of the elastic safety spring 9 abuts against the top of the transmission rod 22, and the other end abuts against the inner wall of the suspension member 14. The introduction of this additional elastic element is not a simple functional duplication, but rather a significant improvement to the adaptive adjustment mechanism from the perspective of system reliability and protection against extreme working conditions. During normal powder pressing, the adaptive adjustment component (e.g., a combination of a movable push rod and a spring, or an elastic buffer) performs the core function of generating displacement buffer based on the axial resistance threshold. Its working stroke is limited to the compression range allowed by the design. Within this range, the safety spring, due to its preset elastic force being higher than the trigger threshold of the main adjustment component, only maintains its initial installation length without significant deformation under normal resistance levels. Essentially, it remains in a standby state and does not participate in the force transmission and displacement distribution of daily powder pressing, thus ensuring that the adaptive adjustment component's response to powder contact state detection and buffering action is not interfered with. However, the powder pressing operation presents several potential abnormal situations. These include a single powder supply exceeding the design limit due to a malfunction in the powder supply mechanism, a sharp increase in axial resistance due to hard foreign objects in the powder, or fatigue fracture or significant stiffness reduction of the elastic elements within the adaptive adjustment mechanism after prolonged use. In these cases, the main adjustment mechanism may be compressed to its maximum allowable stroke, yet still insufficient to fully absorb the excess displacement output by the drive mechanism. Without subsequent protective measures, the transmission rod will directly contact the rigid structure of the suspension or drive mechanism, resulting in a rigid impact. This impact force can be instantly transmitted to the lead screw thread pair, gear teeth, and drive motor shaft, causing irreversible mechanical damage. This preferred solution, which adds a safety spring, significantly improves the structural integrity and operational safety of the powder pressing and cake-making device under abnormal conditions by constructing a two-stage elastic buffer system, substantially enhancing the functional reliability of the adaptive adjustment mechanism.

[0031] In this embodiment, a control method for the above-mentioned pressing and forming device for rice flour cakes includes the following steps: S0, add coffee powder 81 to the powder bowl 8, fix the powder bowl 8 to the tamper maker, the powder bowl 8 is located below the tamper assembly 2, control the tamper assembly 2 to move downward, and control the rotating tamper head 21 of the tamper assembly 2 to rotate. S1, during the downward movement, the powder contact status of the rotating pressing head 21 is detected by the adaptive adjustment component 3; S2, when the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head 21 stops or slows down its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotating powder pressing; S3, When the cloth compaction component 2 reaches the preset parameters, the compaction is completed; S4, control the pressure assembly 2 to rotate in reverse and lift it upwards to reset.

[0032] The method first executes the action of controlling the pressing assembly to move downwards while simultaneously driving the rotating pressing head to rotate. This step is not a simple start command, but rather the axial feed and rotational motion are activated synchronously at the time origin, ensuring that the rotating pressing head is always in a rotating state throughout its entire stroke from the initial position. This avoids the disadvantage of lacking active powder distribution at the initial contact moment caused by moving downwards first and then rotating. During the downward movement, the method does not rely on external additional sensors to detect the presence of powder, but rather detects the powder contact state of the rotating pressing head through the mechanical response of the adaptive adjustment component (the elastic component in this embodiment). Here, "powder contact state" refers to the moment when the bottom surface of the rotating pressing head makes substantial contact with the surface of the coffee powder layer and begins to bear the axial reaction force from the powder. Once the powder contact state is triggered and a powder contact signal is generated, the method immediately controls the rotating pressing head to stop or significantly slow its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotating powder pressing action. This step fully utilizes the threshold buffer characteristics of the adaptive adjustment component in the device, ensuring that the pressing head does not stop arbitrarily, but automatically hovers when the axial resistance provided by the powder reaches a preset critical value. This transforms the powder contact signal itself into the source of control commands without requiring additional time delays or position calculations. Subsequently, the pressing component reaches the "preset parameters," which can be characterized by process indicators such as the powder pressing duration, the cumulative number of rotations of the drive mechanism, or the length of time the adaptive adjustment component remains in a compressed state. Its function is to ensure that the powder receives sufficient compaction time under the rotary kneading action after axial movement stops, allowing the powder particles to complete the final rearrangement and pore closure under the combined action of continuous horizontal shearing and vertical pressure holding. Specifically, the powder pressing state is maintained for a predetermined duration of 1.5 seconds.

[0033] Once the preset parameters are met, compaction is deemed complete, and the final step of lifting and resetting the pressing assembly is executed. This lifting action releases the compression deformation of the adaptive adjustment component, restoring it to its initial length, and simultaneously disengages the rotating pressing head from the powder compact surface, preparing it for the next pressing cycle. During the lifting process, the pressing assembly is reversed, causing the rotating pressing head to retract by rotation rather than simple axial withdrawal when it leaves the powder compact surface. This effectively prevents tearing or localized dents in the powder compact surface due to adhesion between the pressing head's bottom surface and the powder compact surface (especially when the powder compact contains moisture and oil). Simultaneously, the reverse direction is opposite to the forward rotation direction during the compaction stage. Utilizing the cutting angle of the other bevel in the double-bevel structure of the powder scraper, a slight outward pushing action is generated during the lifting process, creating a loose powder particle isolation interface between the pressing head's bottom surface and the powder compact's upper surface. This further reduces separation resistance and ensures the integrity and smoothness of the powder compact surface. This control method introduces step-by-step timing management, organically combining the physical response of the adaptive adjustment component with the motion control of the drive mechanism. This ensures that the downward distance, stopping time, and dwell time of the pressing component during each powder pressing process are no longer random or fixed, but dynamically adjusted according to the actual contact state and cumulative effect. As a result, consistent compression endpoints and similar compaction levels can be obtained under different powder volume conditions.

[0034] Preferably, before the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head 21 distributes powder at a first rotational speed; after the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head 21 switches to a second rotational speed for rotary pressing. The powder distribution stage requires the powder to achieve sufficient fluidity within the pressing container to fill the corners and eliminate unevenness caused by initial accumulation. Therefore, a higher rotational speed is needed to generate sufficient centrifugal and shear forces, allowing the powder particles to overcome mutual frictional resistance and diffuse evenly in all directions. Here, the first rotational speed corresponds to the higher rotational speed set for this powder distribution stage, a value sufficient to allow the powder to form a relatively flat initial surface without axial compression. When the adaptive adjustment component detects that the bottom surface of the rotating pressing head contacts the powder layer and triggers the powder contact signal, the pressing process enters the substantial axial compression stage. At this time, the pressing head stops or slows its axial downward movement while maintaining rotation. The effect of the rotational motion changes from powder distribution to applying continuous kneading and surface trimming to the already pressed powder, eliminating microcracks or density stratification that may occur during compaction. At this stage, if the initial rotational speed is maintained, the higher rotational speed will introduce additional shear disturbances, which may damage the internal structure of the powder cake that is forming, causing the tightly packed particles to slide relative to each other again. At the same time, the centrifugal force brought about by the high rotational speed will throw the surface powder particles to the edge, resulting in an increase in the density difference between the center and the edge of the powder cake. More importantly, when the axial resistance has reached the preset threshold, the drive mechanism needs to provide sufficient axial thrust to maintain pressure and sufficient rotational torque to overcome the frictional resistance of the powder to the lower pressure head. If the rotational speed is too high, the proportion of the output power of the drive motor used to maintain high-speed rotation will increase significantly, thereby weakening the force energy reserve that can be allocated to axial pressure maintenance, and may even cause the balance state of the adaptive adjustment component to become unstable due to insufficient total power. Therefore, this method switches the rotation speed to a second rotation speed after the powder contact signal is triggered. This second rotation speed is a lower rotation speed than the first rotation speed. Its function is to reduce the disturbance intensity of the rotational motion on the powder interface, allowing the pressing head to gently smooth the powder cake surface at a lower angular velocity during axial pressure holding. Simultaneously, it significantly reduces the driving energy consumed by rotational friction, thus reserving more driving power for maintaining axial pressure holding. This ensures that the adaptive adjuster can stably maintain a compressed state at the threshold point without repeated oscillations due to the additional torque generated by speed fluctuations. Furthermore, the timing of the speed switch does not depend on a fixed time or stroke, but is directly triggered by the powder contact signal from the adaptive adjuster. This ensures that the rotation speed change is completely synchronized with the actual force state of the pressing head, avoiding insufficient powder distribution due to premature switching or excessive disturbance during pressing due to late switching. In this embodiment, the first rotation speed is 320 rpm, and the second rotation speed is 240 rpm, continuously decreasing until 0 rpm.

[0035] This invention has been described through preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that various changes or equivalent substitutions can be made to these features and embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein; other embodiments falling within the scope of the claims are also within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A device for pressing and making rice cakes, characterized in that, include: Drive mechanism (1); The pressure assembly (2) includes a rotating pressure head (21) and a transmission rod (22) connected to the rotating pressure head (21). Adaptive adjustment element (3); The third signal switch (73) is used to detect the powder contact state of the rotating pressing head (21); The control unit (6) is electrically connected to the drive mechanism (1) and the third signal switch (73); The drive mechanism (1) drives the transmission rod (22) to rotate and drives the rotating pressing head (21) to move downward along the axial direction. The rotating pressing head (21) rotates and distributes coffee powder when it comes into contact with the coffee powder. When the axial resistance of the rotating pressing head (21) reaches a preset threshold, the adaptive adjustment component (3) generates an adaptive displacement buffer and transmits a powder contact signal that has reached the preset threshold to the control unit (6) via the third signal switch (73). The control unit (6) controls the drive mechanism (1) to drive the pressing assembly (2) to perform the operation configured according to the set requirements based on the powder contact signal.

2. The cake-making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive mechanism (1) includes a drive motor (11), a first transmission gear (12), a lead screw (13), and a suspension member (14). The output end of the drive motor (11) is provided with the first transmission gear (12), which meshes with the lead screw gear provided on the lead screw (13). The other end of the lead screw (13) is connected to the transmission rod (22) through the suspension member (14). The drive motor (11) drives the lead screw (13) to rotate, thereby causing the transmission rod (22) to move axially.

3. The cake-making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drive mechanism (1) further includes a second transmission gear (15), the transmission rod (22) passes through the second transmission gear (15), and the transmission rod (22) and the second transmission gear (15) are in a limiting fit. The output end of the drive motor (11) is connected to the transmission rod (22) through the second transmission gear (15), thereby driving the transmission rod (22) to rotate.

4. The cake-making device according to claim 3, characterized in that: It includes a gearbox (4), in which the first transmission gear (12) and the second transmission gear (15) are disposed.

5. The cake-making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The adaptive adjustment component (3) includes a movable push rod (31) and an elastic component (32). The suspension component (14) is provided with a through part (141). The through part (141) is also provided with a buffer groove (142) for accommodating the elastic component. The through part (141) passes through the movable push rod (31) and slides with the movable push rod (31). One end of the elastic component (32) abuts against the movable push rod (31), and the other end of the elastic component (32) extends into the buffer groove (142). During the powder pressing process, when the axial resistance exceeds the preset elastic force of the elastic element, the rotating pressing head (21) stops or slows down its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotating powder pressing.

6. The cake-making device according to claim 5, characterized in that: An axial powder distribution buffer (5) is provided between the other end of the elastic element (32) and the top of the buffer groove (142). During the powder pressing process, the elastic element (32) is displaced in the direction of the powder distribution buffer (5) until the other end of the elastic element (32) and the top of the buffer groove (142) come into contact.

7. The cake-making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom surface of the rotating pressure head (21) is provided with a powder spreading scraper (211). The powder spreading scraper (211) includes a triangular double-sloping structure formed by the intersection of two inclined surfaces. The two inclined surfaces extend in opposite directions. The angle of entry of each inclined surface is greater than 5° and less than 60°. The total drop of each inclined surface is greater than 2mm and less than 10mm. When the rotating pressure head (21) rotates, the powder spreading scraper (211) spreads the coffee powder radially and circumferentially by rotating pushing force.

8. The cake-making device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The third signal switch (73) is installed on the suspension (14). When the movable push rod (31) moves upward relative to the suspension (14) during the powder pressing process, it touches the third signal switch (73).

9. A control method for a dough pressing and cake making device, characterized in that, The cake-making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 includes the following steps: S0, control the fabric pressing assembly (2) to move downward, and control the rotating pressing head (21) of the fabric pressing assembly (2) to rotate; S1, during the downward process, the powder contact state of the rotating pressing head (21) is detected by the adaptive adjustment element (3); S2, when the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head (21) stops or slows down its axial downward movement while maintaining the rotating powder pressing; S3, When the fabric pressing component (2) reaches the preset parameters, the compaction is completed; S4, control the fabric pressing assembly (2) to rotate in reverse and lift it upward to reset.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: Before the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head (21) applies powder at a first rotation speed; after the powder contact signal is triggered, the rotating pressing head (21) switches to a second rotation speed to apply powder.

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