Ceramic Plate Coffee Roaster That Prevents Combustion Gas Taint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coffee bean roasting methods using hot air or direct fire generate combustion gases that can soak into the beans, reducing their taste and aroma, and require smokestacks that increase the roaster's space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A coffee bean roaster using a ceramic heating plate emitting far-infrared radiant heat and a rotary sliding unit to roast coffee beans while spacing them from both the plate and a burner, which reburns combustion gases, eliminating the need for a smokestack and enhancing flavor and aroma.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional hot-air or direct-fire roasting methods are used, then coffee beans can be roasted efficiently, but combustion gases are generated that soak into the beans and reduce taste and aroma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroasting efficiencyVSAvoidcombustion gas contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful combustion gases are extracted and separated from the roasting environment by directing them through a dedicated passage to a reburning burner, preventing their contact with the coffee beans while maintaining efficient roasting conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful combustion gases are converted into a beneficial resource by reburning them in a dedicated burner, which utilizes the gases for additional heating while eliminating the contamination problem and improving overall energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If smokestacks are installed to discharge combustion gases, then coffee bean taste and aroma are preserved, but the space occupied by the roaster increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoffee bean qualityVSAvoidroaster space occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The smokestack function is merged with the heating system by using the reburning burner to process combustion gases, eliminating the need for separate smokestack structures and reducing overall equipment space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reburning burner serves multiple functions: it processes and eliminates combustion gases, provides additional heating for the roasting process, and eliminates the need for separate exhaust structures, making the system more space-efficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Speed

If coffee beans are placed close to the burner for direct firing, then roasting speed increases, but combustion gases directly contact the beans and degrade quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroasting speedVSAvoidcombustion gas contact

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roasting system is segmented into separate functional zones: a fast-roasting zone with direct ceramic plate heating for speed, and a dedicated reburning zone for combustion gas processing, allowing both high speed and quality preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for even roasting of coffee beans using far-infrared heat, preventing combustion gases from affecting the taste and aroma, and eliminates the need for a smokestack, thus reducing the roaster's space requirements while producing coffee with enhanced flavor and aroma.

Implementation Method 1

a ceramic heating plate housed in a casing, with a gate provided on a side of the ceramic heating plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFar-infrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a burner provided inside the ceramic heating plate to execute combustion of gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

a rotary sliding unit to enter the gate so as to slide into the ceramic heating plate, the rotary sliding unit roasting coffee beans while rolling the coffee beans

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical rolling:

Data Source

PatentUS7406913B2Coffee bean roaster and method for roasting coffee beans using the same

Publication Date: 2008.08.05 HRS CO LTD

AI summary

A coffee bean roaster and a method for roasting coffee beans using the roaster are disclosed. The coffee bean roaster includes an oven having a ceramic heating plate with a gate, and a rotary sliding unit to enter the gate so as to slide into the ceramic heating plate, so that the rotary sliding unit roasts coffee beans while rolling the coffee beans and spacing the coffee beans from both the ceramic heating plate and a burner. The method for roasting coffee beans using the coffee bean roaster includes entering the rotary sliding unit containing the coffee beans into the oven through the gate so as to place the rotary sliding unit in the oven at a position spaced apart from both the ceramic heating plate and the burner, roasting the coffee beans by far-infrared radiant heat emitted from the ceramic heating plate, and reburning combustion gases, generated from the roasting of the coffee beans, by the burner.