Coffee Bean Dosing Package With Airtight Residue-Free Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee makers suffer from flavor and aroma loss due to prolonged exposure of coffee beans to ambient air, and residual coffee particles from previous grinding runs can contaminate new beans, affecting the taste of freshly ground coffee.
Innovation Solution
A coffee bean package with a scoop mechanism that allows for precise dosing and dispensing of coffee beans directly to a grinder, while maintaining an airtight seal to prevent exposure to air, and a system for efficiently changing coffee bean types without leaving residues behind.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If coffee beans are kept in a coffee bean holder for a long time before grinding, then the coffee making process can be automated and convenience is improved, but flavor and aroma are lost due to prolonged exposure to ambient air
Solution Approach 1:
The coffee bean package is divided into multiple individual portions, each sealed separately. This segmentation allows the coffee maker to access only one portion at a time, keeping the remaining portions protected from air exposure while enabling automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Coffee beans are pre-portioned and sealed in individual compartments before use. This preliminary action ensures that only the required amount is exposed to air when needed, while the rest remains protected, combining automation convenience with flavor preservation.
2Extent of automation
If a complete pack of coffee beans is emptied into the coffee bean holder, then the coffee maker can operate automatically, but residual coffee particles from previous grinding runs contaminate new beans
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the coffee beans directly from their sealed packaging into the grinding chamber, bypassing the coffee bean holder entirely. This eliminates the contamination source by ensuring fresh beans never contact previous residues in the holder.
Solution Approach 2:
A dosing device acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers coffee beans directly from the sealed package to the grinder. This intermediary system enables automation while preventing contamination by eliminating the need for a shared storage holder.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If coffee beans are packaged in airtight packages, then flavor and aroma are preserved, but the complexity of the packaging system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual coffee bean portions are nested within a single outer package. This nested structure provides comprehensive air protection for all portions while maintaining a compact, manageable package size that does not excessively increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each individual coffee bean portion is sealed with its own airtight closure, providing localized protection. This approach preserves flavor and aroma effectively while keeping the overall packaging structure relatively simple and manageable.
4Productivity
If the coffee bean outlet remains open for dispensing, then the dosing function is achieved, but coffee beans are exposed to ambient air causing flavor loss
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet closure is opened periodically only when a portion is being dispensed, and closed immediately afterward. This periodic action enables the dosing function to operate while minimizing the duration of air exposure to preserve flavor and aroma.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet remains closed and the coffee bean package is skipped over (not exposed to air) except during the brief moment when dispensing occurs. This rushing through the dispensing action quickly minimizes air contact time, preserving flavor while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Coffee bean package (3) provided with an inner space for holding a collection of coffee beans for multiple portions of coffee beverage, which inner space is surrounded by at least one wall, a coffee bean outlet (11) for dispensing coffee beans from the inner space, and a dosing device (16) which is arranged for dispensing coffee beans from the inner space in a predetermined dose.