Arrangement comprising an espresso coffee machine and a coffee grinder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machine and grinder arrangements face issues with accuracy and flexibility in dispensing the correct quantity and characteristics of coffee powder, leading to inconsistencies in brewed drinks, especially in commercial settings where multiple operators and recipes are involved, resulting in time and economic losses.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a filter holder assembly with embedded electronics that stores recipe parameters and communicates with both the coffee machine and grinder, allowing for precise control of coffee powder characteristics and brewing conditions, enabling flexible use across multiple brewing groups and reducing errors by checking and correcting parameters in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual operation and adjustment are used for coffee grinding and brewing, then operational flexibility is maintained, but preparation accuracy and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoffee powder quantity and characteristicsVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter holder assembly autonomously performs identification, parameter storage, and communication functions without requiring external intervention. The embedded electronics automatically detect the assembly presence, retrieve stored recipe parameters, and transmit them to the coffee machine and grinder, enabling self-service operation that improves accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical adjustment of grinding parameters and brewing settings is replaced by an electronic communication system. The embedded electronics in the filter holder assembly transmit digital recipe parameters to the coffee machine and grinder, substituting mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electronic control that achieves higher precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple filter holders are used for different recipes, then recipe versatility is improved, but the risk of mismatching filter holders with brewing groups increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecipe varietyVSAvoidfilter holder - brewing group matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coffee machine and grinder receive feedback from the filter holder assembly through embedded electronics that communicate recipe parameters and identification codes. This feedback mechanism ensures that the correct recipe parameters are applied to the selected brewing group, preventing mismatches and ensuring reliable operation across multiple filter holders and recipes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The embedded electronics system provides a universal communication interface that works across all filter holder assemblies and brewing groups. The system can identify and match any filter holder with any brewing group by exchanging digital signals, making the system universally compatible while maintaining reliable matching across diverse configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If real-time parameter communication is implemented between filter holder, coffee machine, and grinder, then preparation accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoffee preparation accuracyVSAvoidelectronics and communication system

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is segmented and distributed across three independent components: embedded electronics in the filter holder assembly, communication interface in the coffee machine, and communication interface in the grinder. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, reducing overall system complexity while achieving high preparation accuracy through coordinated operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Recipe parameters are pre-stored in the embedded electronics of the filter holder assembly before the brewing process begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time parameter adjustment during brewing, reducing the complexity of real-time control while maintaining high preparation accuracy through pre-configured settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3833228B1Arrangement comprising an espresso coffee machine and a coffee grinder

Publication Date: 2023.12.06 RANCILIO GROUP SPA

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AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a coffee machine (100) and a coffee grinder (200), wherein said coffee machine is able to prepare a plurality of different coffee-based drinks according to several recipes. In order to avoid errors when preparing a specific recipe, the coffee machine (100) comprises a plurality of brewing groups and a corresponding plurality of filter holder assemblies (1), and at least one filter holder assembly (1) - preferably each filter holder assembly (1) - comprises an electronics (11) equipped with a memory (15), in which the parameters of one or more of said recipes are stored, and with communication devices (13) that allow said filter holder group to communicate on one hand with the electronics (101) of the coffee machine (100) and, on the other hand, to communicate with the electronics (201) of the coffee grinder (200), whereby said filter holder assembly communicates to each device the data necessary for preparing the selected recipe.