Apparatus and method for grinding materials to be ground.

Abstract

An apparatus and method for grinding an object to be ground by at least one grinding mechanism, the method including operating the grinding mechanism in a first direction to grind the object to be ground, and operating the grinding mechanism in a second direction different from the first direction, the operating the grinding mechanism in the second direction being performed after grinding of the object to be ground is completed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for pulverizing a material to be pulverized by at least one pulverizing mechanism, the method comprising operating the pulverizing mechanism in a first direction and operating the pulverizing mechanism in a second direction different from the first direction for pulverizing the material to be pulverized.

[0002] There are known pulverizing mechanisms having an adjusting device for adjusting or varying the pulverizing grade, for example the fineness of coffee powder. In particular, by means of the adjusting device, a plurality of cutting tools or pulverizing tools of the pulverizing mechanism can be adjusted relative to one another. For example, the pulverizing gap or the height of the pulverizing gap between the pulverizing cone and the pulverizing ring can be adjusted. This adjustment can be carried out manually or automatically. International Publication No. 2015 / 071242 describes a coffee grinder comprising a grinding tool for grinding coffee beans, a motor for driving the grinding tool, a lock detector for detecting a locked state of the grinding tool and / or motor, and a reversing unit configured to temporarily reverse the direction of rotation of the grinding tool and / or motor when the lock detector detects a locked state.

[0003] When adjusting the pulverizing grade to a finer pulverizing grade, i.e., for example when reducing the pulverizing gap, there is a problem that after the first pulverization of the material to be pulverized, residues of this material to be pulverized and / or residues of the pulverized material to be pulverized remain between the pulverizing tools, in particular in the pulverizing gap. These residues make it difficult or prevent the adjustment to a finer pulverizing grade and cause damage to the pulverizing mechanism during the adjustment.

[0004] One possibility to avoid this problem is to carry out the adjustment of the pulverizing grade during the pulverization of the material to be pulverized, for example immediately after the start of the pulverization process. However, the pulverizing mechanism to be adjusted may have a high pulverizing output or processing output. In other words, there may already be a considerable amount of the material to be pulverized being pulverized immediately after the start of the pulverization process. That is, such an approach has the disadvantage that the adjustment during the pulverization process has to be carried out very quickly after the start of the pulverization process, for example within a few seconds.

[0005] Therefore, the fundamental problem of the present invention is to provide a method for facilitating the adjustment of a grinding mechanism, and in particular, a method that enables users of the grinding mechanism to make adjustments to the grinding mechanism over a longer period of time.

[0006] The solution to this problem is, in the method described at the beginning, to operate the grinding mechanism in the second direction after the grinding of the material to be ground is completed, in response to user input, and / or automatically in response to the number of times the grinding mechanism has been operated in the first direction.

[0007] Activating the grinding mechanism in a first direction may be, for example, a first (rotational) motion of the first grinding element, such as the grinding cone, relative to a second grinding element, such as the grinding ring, for grinding the material to be ground in the grinding mechanism. The second direction may be, for example, a (rotational) motion opposite to the first direction. The first and / or second directions may similarly be axial motion of the first grinding element relative to the second grinding element. Activating the grinding mechanism in a second direction may be, for example, an expansion of the grinding gap. By activating the grinding mechanism in a second direction, the material to be ground, the ground material, or the ground material / powder mixture in the grinding gap can be discharged from the grinding gap. In other words, by activating the grinding mechanism in a second direction, the grinding mechanism is relaxed.

[0008] By relaxing the grinding mechanism after the completion of a grinding process or multiple grinding processes, that is, after the grinding of the material to be ground, the grinding grade can be adjusted, particularly reduced, and the residue of the material to be ground can be pre-removed from the grinding gaps, i.e., from the cutting region between the first and second grinding elements. This makes it possible or easy to adjust the grinding grade. It also allows the user of the grinding mechanism to adjust the grinding mechanism at any point after the completion of a grinding process or a predetermined number of grinding processes, but before the next grinding process. This significantly extends the period during which the grinding mechanism can be adjusted.

[0009] In one configuration, it is specified that the grinding mechanism is preferably activated automatically in response to the grinding mechanism being activated multiple times in the first direction, particularly each activation.

[0010] The number of operations may be predetermined or adjustable. In particular, the number of operations may be adjustable based on, for example, the (average, estimated, or actual) amount of material to be ground and / or ground material that accumulates in the grinding gap during the grinding process. This allows the relaxation of the grinding mechanism to be performed at a frequency sufficient to adjust the grinding mechanism between each grinding process or between multiple grinding processes. For example, it may be specified that the grinding mechanism be relaxed after each grinding process. It may also be specified that the grinding mechanism be operated in a second direction in response to multiple operations of the grinding mechanism in the first direction. In this way, protection of the grinding mechanism and / or the grinding mechanism drive can be achieved.

[0011] Regular relaxation of the grinding mechanism or activation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction in response to user input and / or the number of times the grinding mechanism operates in a first direction (e.g., each respective) allows for the regular removal or release of foreign particles, particularly residues of the material being ground, from the grinding gaps between the grinding elements of the grinding mechanism. This prevents the formation of built-up edges.

[0012] Furthermore, a uniform load on the grinding mechanism, particularly on the (plastic) housing of the grinding mechanism, can be achieved. This prevents or reduces deformation of the grinding mechanism or the grinding mechanism housing. It also prevents or reduces misalignment of the grinding elements or grinding rings relative to each other.

[0013] As a result, consistent grinding results can be obtained, especially over the service life of the grinding mechanism.

[0014] In one configuration, the grinding mechanism is specified to be activated in a second direction in response to user input and / or in response to a grinding malfunction detected during grinding. In this configuration, the user input is intended, for example, to clean and / or adjust the grinding mechanism.

[0015] For example, user input and / or detected grinding failures can precede each operation of the grinding mechanism in the second direction. In another configuration, the grinding mechanism may be additionally activated in the second direction in response to user input and / or detected failures, i.e., in addition to the automatic operation of the grinding mechanism in the second direction that occurs after the completion of grinding of the material to be ground or after one or more operations of the grinding mechanism in the second direction. In other words, activating the grinding mechanism in the second direction can be done multiple times between the two grinding processes.

[0016] The grinding mechanism may be activated in response to user input and / or in response to grinding failures detected during grinding, for example, in response to user input aimed at adjusting the grinding mechanism, or in response to such input as well. This ensures that the grinding mechanism is always relaxed before any adjustment is made and / or before the material to be ground and / or the ground material prevents further grinding, especially in such cases. This further protects the grinding mechanism.

[0017] Furthermore, the operation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction in response to user input facilitates the cleaning of the grinding mechanism. Activating the grinding mechanism in a second direction allows the material to be ground and / or the ground material to be discharged from the grinding gap toward, for example, the material input point. In this way, the removal of excess material and / or the ground material remaining in the grinding gap from the grinding mechanism can be easily performed, for example, using a suction device.

[0018] Activating the grinding mechanism in a second direction may be related to the form of user input. For example, activation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction in response to user input aimed at adjusting the grinding mechanism can be performed during the first period. Activation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction in response to user input aimed at cleaning the grinding mechanism can be performed during the second period, which is longer than the first period. For example, the first period may be 2 seconds or less, and / or the second period may be longer than 2 seconds and 10 seconds or less. Furthermore, activation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction in response to a grinding failure detected during grinding can be performed during either the first or second period.

[0019] In one configuration, activating the grinding mechanism is specified to involve moving a first grinding element relative to a second grinding element, particularly in translational and / or rotational motion. The first grinding element may be a grinding cone, and the second grinding element may be a grinding ring, or vice versa. The motion of the first grinding element relative to the second grinding element acts for grinding or for pulverizing the material to be ground, depending on the direction of motion. The first direction may be one direction of rotation of the first grinding element relative to the second grinding element. The second direction may be a direction of rotation opposite to this direction, i.e., backward motion of the grinding mechanism. Alternatively, the first direction may be translational motion of the first grinding element toward the second grinding element. The second direction may be translational motion of the first grinding element opposite to this direction, i.e., translational motion away from the second grinding element.

[0020] In one configuration, it has been specified that acting the grinding mechanism in a second direction preferably involves adjusting the grinding mechanism to adjust a second grinding grade that is coarser than a first grinding grade that has already been adjusted. The second direction may be the translational direction described above. In other words, the translational direction may be a direction along the rotational axis of both grinding elements or either of the grinding elements, for example, the motion of both grinding elements or either of the grinding elements in the translational direction results in a change, for example, an increase, in the spacing between the grinding elements, particularly the grinding gap.

[0021] In one configuration, the first grinding element is identified as a grinding rotor, particularly a grinding cone, and the second grinding element is identified as a grinding stator, particularly a grinding ring.

[0022] In one configuration, the method is specified to further include adjusting the grinding mechanism, particularly by subsequently operating the grinding mechanism in a second direction, to preferably produce a third grinding grade that is finer than a first grinding grade and / or a second grinding grade.

[0023] For example, the method includes grinding the material to be ground at a first intermediate grinding grade. After the grinding process is complete, the grinding grade can be changed to a second coarser grinding grade, which is coarser than the intermediate grinding grade, thereby relaxing the grinding mechanism or removing any material remaining in the grinding gaps. Next, a third fine grinding grade, which is finer than the intermediate grinding grade, can be adjusted, thereby producing material ground to a fine grinding grade. After the grinding of the material to be ground is complete, particularly immediately after the completion of grinding, the operation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction allows the user of the grinding mechanism to adjust to a third grinding grade at any time before the next grinding process.

[0024] In one configuration, adjusting the grinding mechanism is specified to include expanding and / or contracting the grinding gap, particularly the grinding gap between the first and second grinding elements.

[0025] In one configuration, adjusting the grinding mechanism is specified to involve causing one grinding element or a first grinding element to move in a translational and / or axial direction relative to one grinding element or a second grinding element.

[0026] In one configuration, the method is specified to further include operating a grinding mechanism in a first direction to grind the material to be ground to one grinding grade, particularly a first grinding grade and / or a third grinding grade.

[0027] In one configuration, the material to be crushed includes coffee beans and / or coffee powder, and / or the crushing mechanism is specified to be a crushing mechanism for a coffee maker.

[0028] In one configuration, the crushing mechanism is configured to convey the material to be crushed from the inlet side to the outlet side during operation in the first direction, and / or the crushing mechanism is specified to be configured to return the material to be crushed to the inlet side during operation in the second direction.

[0029] The inlet side may be configured to accommodate the material to be crushed or to convey the material to be crushed to the crushing mechanism. For example, the inlet side is adjacent to a container or has a container into which the user can load the material to be crushed, that is, a container capable of accommodating the material to be crushed. The outlet side may be configured to accommodate the crushed material to be crushed and / or to carry it for further use, particularly, for example, in a coffee maker. The crushing gap may be a boundary or transition between the inlet side and the outlet side.

[0030] Thereby, on the one hand, when the crushing mechanism operates in the first direction, the material to be crushed is conveyed in the direction of the crushing gap to crush the material to be crushed. This increases the efficiency of the crushing process. On the other hand, when the crushing mechanism operates in the second direction, the material to be crushed or the crushed material to be crushed is carried out of the crushing gap. This serves to relieve the crushing mechanism and ultimately serves to protect the crushing mechanism and / or to facilitate cleaning of the crushing mechanism.

[0031] In an optionally independent further configuration, a coffee maker is specified that includes a crushing mechanism and means for implementing the method described above.

[0032] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on a plurality of preferred embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] [Figure 1]This is a flowchart of the first method for crushing the material to be crushed. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart of the second method for crushing the material to be crushed. [Figure 3A] This is a three-dimensional diagram showing the first grinding element of the grinding mechanism. [Figure 3B] This is a three-dimensional diagram showing the second grinding element of the grinding mechanism. [Figure 4A] This is a three-dimensional diagram showing the first grinding mechanism. [Figure 4B] This is a cross-sectional view showing the first grinding mechanism. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing the second grinding mechanism.

[0034] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a first method 100 for grinding a material to be ground by at least one grinding mechanism. Method 100 includes a first step 110 for operating the grinding mechanism in a first direction. When the grinding mechanism is operated in the first direction, the material to be ground is ground. For example, a first grinding element inside the grinding mechanism is operated in a first direction relative to a second grinding element. The first direction may be, for example, a rotational or translational direction of the first grinding element relative to the second grinding element that enables the grinding of the material to be ground.

[0035] Method 100 may include in step 120 a confirmation of whether the grinding of the material to be ground, i.e., the preceding grinding process, has been completed. Step 120 may further confirm whether several N grinding processes, in particular multiple grinding processes, have been completed, where N is 1 or greater, or 2. In other words, step 120 may include a confirmation of whether the grinding mechanism has been operated N times in a first direction to grind the material to be ground, in particular whether it has been operated N times over a predetermined period of time.

[0036] If fewer than N grinding steps are completed, or if the grinding mechanism is operated in the first direction for grinding the material to be ground fewer than N times, the method returns to step 110.

[0037] In step 120, once it is confirmed that the grinding process or several N grinding processes have been completed, in step 140 the grinding mechanism is activated in a second direction different from the first direction. The activation of the grinding mechanism in the second direction relaxes the grinding mechanism. The activation of the grinding mechanism in the second direction occurs immediately following step 110 or step 120, that is, immediately after the completion of one or more N grinding processes. Confirmation of the completion of N grinding processes in step 120 can be implicitly done in step 110. For example, if one or more activations of the grinding mechanism in the first direction have occurred over a (pre-defined) period, in particular each of these activations, then one or more grinding processes can be considered to have been completed.

[0038] Supplementary or alternative, the operation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction can be performed in response to, and in particular can only be performed in response to, a user input detected or received in step 130. The user input is, for example, for the purpose of adjusting the grinding mechanism. For example, the grinding mechanism is activated in a second direction only when a user input is received, or always when a user input is received. The user input can be received, for example, after the completion of one grinding process or N grinding processes. Alternatively or supplementary, the user input can be performed at any time, that is, independently of the completion of one or more grinding processes or the completion of the operation of the grinding mechanism in a first direction. In another example, the grinding mechanism is activated in a second direction only when a user input is received for the purpose of adjusting the grinding mechanism, in particular for refining the grinding grade, for example, for reducing the grinding gap. If no user input is received, the method returns to step 110.

[0039] Supplementary or alternative, the operation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction may be performed in response to the detection of a malfunction in the grinding mechanism, and in particular, may only be performed in response to the detection of such a malfunction. For example, step 130 may include checking whether the preceding grinding process was completed as specified and / or whether an irregularity occurred during one of the preceding grinding processes, in particular whether a malfunction occurred in the grinding process or grinding element, for example, whether an increase in force input was observed during the grinding process or whether an increase in resistance was observed during the grinding process. If no such malfunction is observed, the method returns to step 110. Method 100 may not include steps 120 and 130 at all, or it may include either or both of steps 120 and 130.

[0040] Similarly, the operation of the grinding mechanism in the second direction may be preceded by a confirmation, in response to user input / fault, that the grinding mechanism in the first direction has not yet been operated, or that the grinding mechanism in the second direction has not yet been operated between the last operation and the user input / fault. In other words, method 100 includes the operation of the grinding mechanism in the second direction in response to user input / fault if the grinding mechanism in the second direction has not yet been operated after the completion of the preceding grinding of the material to be ground.

[0041] Method 100 can be performed separately for each of the multiple grinding mechanisms, or together, or especially simultaneously, for all of the multiple grinding mechanisms, in order to grind the material to be ground by multiple grinding mechanisms.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a second method 200 for grinding a material using at least one grinding mechanism. Method 200 begins with method step 210, in which the grinding mechanism is actuated in a second direction. Method step 210 may correspond to method step 120 of method 100 shown in Figure 1. The second direction in method 200 may be the second direction shown in method 100. In other words, method steps 220 and 230 may follow method 100.

[0043] Step 220 involves adjusting the grinding mechanism, following the activation of the grinding mechanism in a second direction, particularly with the aim of mitigating the grinding mechanism. Step 220 may include adjusting the grinding mechanism to a finer grinding grade. For example, step 220 may include reducing the distance between two grinding elements of the grinding mechanism, particularly reducing the grinding gap between two grinding elements or reducing the height of the grinding gap.

[0044] Following the adjustment of the grinding mechanism in step 220, in step 230 the grinding mechanism is operated in a first direction for grinding the material to be ground. The first direction in step 230 may correspond to the first direction in step 110 of method 100. In other words, in step 230 the grinding mechanism is operated in a first direction for grinding the material to be ground with an adjusted, for example, finer grinding grade, particularly a finer grinding grade than the grinding of the material to be ground in step 110 of method 100 shown in Figure 1.

[0045] Figure 3A shows a three-dimensional view of the first grinding element 10 of the grinding mechanism. The first grinding element 10 is a circular grinding cone 10 or grinding cone stand. The grinding cone 10 is equipped with a first guide means 11 and a second guide means 12 that are periodically arranged around its circular circumference. The first guide means 11 and the second guide means 12 are configured to transport the material to be ground and / or the ground material toward the circular cutting edge 13 of the grinding cone 10, or to move the material to be ground and / or the ground material toward the cutting edge 13. The second guide means 12 is positioned between the first guide means 11 and the cutting edge 13 in the axial and radial directions. The second guide means 12 is positioned around the grinding mechanism 10 at a higher period than the first guide means 11. The grinding cone 10 has an opening 14 located in the middle, i.e., having the central axis of the grinding cone, and this opening 14 extends through the grinding cone 10 along the central axis. The opening 14 is a housing for a rotating shaft or rotating shaft element and / or adjustment device.

[0046] Figure 3B shows a three-dimensional view of the second grinding element 20 of the grinding mechanism. The second grinding element 20 is a circular grinding ring 20. Similar to the grinding cone 10 described above, the grinding ring 20 includes a first guide means 21 and a second guide means 22 that are periodically arranged around its circular circumference. The first guide means 21 and the second guide means 22 are configured to transport the material to be ground and / or the ground material toward the circular cutting edge 23 of the grinding ring 20, or to move the material to be ground and / or the ground material toward the cutting edge 23. The second guide means 22 is positioned between the first guide means 21 and the cutting edge 23 in the axial and radial directions. The second guide means 22 is positioned around the grinding ring 20 at a higher period than the first guide means 21.

[0047] Figure 4A shows a three-dimensional view of a first grinding mechanism 30 comprising a first grinding element 10 and a second grinding element 20. The grinding mechanism 30 includes an axial element 31. The axial element 31 is positioned in the opening 14 of the grinding cone 10. The grinding cone 10 is rotatably supported by or coupled to the axial element 31. The grinding cone 10 is movable relative to the grinding ring 20 and / or relative to the axial element 31, and is particularly rotatable. The axial element 31 may be coupled to the grinding cone 10, and may also be movable relative to the grinding ring 20, and is particularly rotatable. The axial element 31 may be a rotating shaft and / or an adjustment device.

[0048] The crushing mechanism 30 includes a third guide means 32 for conveying the material to be crushed toward the crushing gap 33. The third guide means 32 is periodically arranged around the circular circumference of the shaft element 31, with respect to the central axis of the shaft element 31. The third guide means 32 is arranged on the shaft element 31 at a lower period than the first and second guide means provided on the crushing cone 10 or the crushing ring 20.

[0049] Figure 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the first grinding mechanism 30. Similar or identical features are denoted by the same reference numerals. As is clear from Figure 4B, the grinding mechanism 30 comprises an inlet side 34 and an outlet side 35. The inlet side 34 is configured to accommodate the material to be ground, which can be conveyed toward the grinding gap 33 and toward the outlet side 35 using first, second and / or third guide means. After the material to be ground by the cutting blades 13, 23 in the grinding gap 33, the ground material reaches the outlet side 35 of the grinding mechanism 30.

[0050] The grinding mechanism 30, particularly the grinding cone 10 and the grinding ring 20, is configured to be non-rotationally symmetric or non-rotationally invariant. Therefore, the rotational direction of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20, or the rotational direction of the grinding ring 20 relative to the grinding cone 10, is already recognizable in the grinding cone 10 and / or the grinding ring 20. The grinding mechanism 30 is configured to transport the material to be ground within the grinding chamber 36 from the inlet side 34 to the outlet side 35 or from the inlet side 34 to the grinding gap 33 in a first rotational direction of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20, using first, second, and / or third guide means. In the illustrated example, the first rotational direction is the right rotation, or clockwise rotation, of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20. The grinding chamber 36 is surrounded or defined by the grinding cone 10 and the grinding ring 20.

[0051] The grinding mechanism 30 is further configured to transport the material to be ground within the grinding chamber 36 from the outlet side 35 to the inlet side 34 or from the grinding gap 33 to the inlet side 34 in a second rotational direction of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20. In the illustrated example, the second rotational direction is left rotation, or counterclockwise rotation, of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20.

[0052] The shaft element 31 may further be equipped with an adjustment device. The grinding cone 10 and / or grinding ring 20 can be adjusted or controlled via the adjustment device, particularly the relative distance between the grinding cone 10 and the grinding ring 20. For example, the grinding cone 10 can move relative to the grinding ring 20 along the central axis 37 of the grinding mechanism 30, and can move along the central axis 37 of the grinding mechanism 30 in particular by the movement of the shaft element 31. The height or size of the grinding gap 33 can be changed or controlled by axial adjustment of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20 along the central axis 37. In other words, the relative distance between the cutting edge 13 of the grinding cone 10 and the cutting edge 23 of the grinding ring 20 can be adjusted or controlled by the axial position of the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20 along the central axis 37.

[0053] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the second grinding mechanism 40. The second grinding mechanism 40, like the first grinding mechanism 30, comprises a grinding cone 10, a grinding ring 20, and an axial element 31. Equal or similar features are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0054] The grinding mechanism 40 further includes a drive unit 41 configured to move the grinding ring 20 relative to the grinding cone 10 or the grinding cone 10 relative to the grinding ring 20 in one direction or a first direction or one direction or a second direction. For this purpose, the drive unit 41 is provided with engaging means 42 configured to drive the rotation of the grinding ring 20 relative to the grinding cone 10 and relative to the shaft element 31, for example, using corresponding engaging means (not shown) provided on the grinding ring 20. To ensure the relative rotation of the grinding ring 20 with respect to the grinding cone 10, the grinding cone 10 is provided with locking means 43 for housing a locking pin (not shown), a notch 43 in the illustrated example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 First grinding element 11 First guide means for the first grinding element 12 Second guide means for the first crushing element 13 Cutting edge of the first grinding element 14. Opening provided in the first crushing element 20 Second crushing element 21 First guide means for the second crushing element 22 Second guide means for the second filtration element 23 Cutting edge of the second crushing element 30 First grinding mechanism 31 Axial element of the first grinding mechanism 32 Guide means for axis elements 33 Grinding gap of the first grinding mechanism 34 Inlet side of the first crushing mechanism 35 Outlet side of the first crushing mechanism 36 Grinding chamber of the first grinding mechanism 37. Central axis of the first grinding mechanism 40. Second grinding mechanism 41 Drive unit of the second crushing mechanism 42 Engagement means of the drive unit 43 Locking means of the second crushing mechanism 100 A first method for grinding materials to be ground. 110 Step of the first method of the first method 120 Step of the second method of the first method 130 Step of the third method of the first method 140 Step of the fourth method of the first method 200 A second method for grinding materials to be ground. 210 Step of the first method of the second method 220 Step of the second method of the second method 230 Step of the third method of the second method

Claims

1. A method for grinding a material to be ground by at least one grinding mechanism (30), In order to pulverize the material to be pulverized, the pulverization mechanism (30) is operated in a first direction (110), The pulverizing mechanism (30) is operated in a second direction different from the first direction (140) In a method including, The crushing mechanism (30) is operated in the second direction after the crushing of the material to be crushed is completed, in response to user input (130), and / or automatically in response to the number of times the crushing mechanism (30) is operated in the first direction (110). Each of the actions of operating the grinding mechanism (30) in the first direction (110) and operating the grinding mechanism (30) in the second direction (140) includes rotating the first grinding element (10) relative to the second grinding element (20), Activating the grinding mechanism (30) in the first direction (110) includes rotating the first grinding element (10) in the first direction relative to the second grinding element (20), and activating the grinding mechanism (30) in the second direction (140) includes rotating the first grinding element (10) in the second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the second grinding element (20). A method characterized by the following features.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pulverizing mechanism (30) is operated in the second direction (140) automatically in response to the pulverizing mechanism (30) being operated in the first direction (110).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pulverization mechanism (30) is operated in the second direction (140) in response to a pulverization failure (130) detected during pulverization.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the user input (130) is for the purpose of cleaning and / or adjusting the grinding mechanism (30).

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that operating the grinding mechanism (30) in the second direction (140) includes adjusting the grinding mechanism (30) to produce a second grinding grade that is coarser than a first grinding grade that has already been prepared.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the first grinding element (10) is a grinding rotor and the second grinding element (20) is a grinding stator.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising adjusting the grinding mechanism (220) to prepare a third grinding grade that is finer than the first grinding grade and / or the second grinding grade.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that adjusting the grinding mechanism (220) includes expanding and / or reducing the grinding gap (33).

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that adjusting the grinding mechanism (220) includes causing one grinding element or the first grinding element (10) to move in a translational and / or axial direction relative to one grinding element or the second grinding element (20).

10. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising operating the grinding mechanism (30) in the first direction (230) in order to grind the material to be ground to a single grinding grade.

11. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material to be ground includes coffee beans and / or coffee powder, and / or the grinding mechanism (30) is a grinding mechanism for a coffee maker.

12. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grinding mechanism (30) is configured to transport the material to be ground from the inlet side (34) to the outlet side (35) when operating in the first direction, and / or the grinding mechanism (30) is configured to return the material to be ground to the inlet side (34) when operating in the second direction.

13. A coffee maker comprising at least one grinding mechanism (30) and a device for data processing, wherein the coffee maker comprises means for carrying out the method according to claim 1 or 2.

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