Coffee Bean Container with Auger Dosing for Grind-on-Demand Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee grinding systems are inefficient, particularly when grinding small quantities, requiring time-consuming measurement and cleaning, and limiting the variety of coffee types that can be offered due to inconsistencies in coffee bean size and density, as well as residue buildup in the grinding machine.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a container with a built-in directing component, such as an auger, that guides coffee beans to a grinding apparatus for controlled dosing and efficient grinding, along with a mechanism to minimize residue and facilitate easy cleaning, allowing for various coffee types to be ground and brewed with minimal user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual measurement and weighing of coffee beans is used, then the amount of coffee beans can be controlled, but the process takes 30 seconds or more which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-portion coffee beans into single-serving capsules before they reach the user. The dosing mechanism automatically measures and dispenses the precise amount of coffee beans (typically 7-9 grams) into a capsule during manufacturing or preparation, eliminating the need for manual weighing at the point of use. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by achieving precise measurement upstream while enabling rapid dispensing downstream.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides coffee beans into individual single-serving capsules, each pre-filled with a precise dose. This segmentation allows each capsule to be independently dosed and stored, eliminating the need for batch measurement and portioning. The capsule acts as a pre-measured unit that can be quickly dispensed, resolving the time-consuming measurement process while maintaining dosage consistency.
2Ease of manufacture
If coffee beans are ground in a conventional machine, then grinding can be performed, but residue from coffee grounds covers internal components requiring cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the coffee grounds from the grinding chamber into a removable collection container or directly into a dispensing mechanism. The grinding chamber is designed with smooth surfaces and minimal internal components that can trap residue. Used capsules containing grounds are easily removed and discarded, eliminating the need to clean internal grinding components. This extraction approach separates the grinding function from the disposal function, making maintenance simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable single-serving capsules that contain pre-measured coffee beans. After grinding, the entire capsule with spent grounds is discarded rather than requiring cleaning of the grinding chamber. This disposable approach eliminates cleaning requirements for the main grinding mechanism, resolving the contradiction between maintaining grinding functionality and avoiding cleaning efforts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a grinding machine is maintained for different coffee types, then versatility is possible, but cleaning between different coffee types is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments different coffee types into separate single-serving capsules. Each capsule is pre-filled with a specific coffee variety (espresso, cappuccino, latte, etc.), allowing the user to switch between coffee types simply by selecting different capsules rather than cleaning the grinding chamber. This segmentation enables unlimited versatility while eliminating cross-contamination and cleaning requirements between different coffee types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service versatility through a library of pre-prepared single-serving capsules in various coffee types. The user selects the desired coffee type from available capsules without needing to manually clean or reconfigure the grinding mechanism. The system automatically adapts to different coffee types through capsule selection, resolving the contradiction between offering variety and avoiding cleaning effort.
4Productivity
If single-cup portions are ground and brewed, then efficiency is improved, but the grinding machine requires frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses disposable single-serving capsules for each brewing cycle. Each capsule contains a pre-measured dose of coffee beans and is used for one grinding and brewing cycle. After use, the entire capsule with spent grounds is discarded, eliminating the need to clean the grinding chamber between single-cup preparations. This disposable approach enables high-frequency single-cup service without increasing maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts spent coffee grounds from the grinding chamber into removable capsules or a collection container that can be easily removed and emptied. This extraction design allows rapid disposal of grounds without disassembling or cleaning internal grinding components. The grinding mechanism itself remains clean and requires minimal maintenance even with frequent single-cup use, resolving the contradiction between productivity and maintenance frequency.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for containing a material, such as coffee beans, that may be used with a grinding apparatus. The apparatus may have a directing component to guide a controlled dose of material toward the grinding apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a container with a base portion that engages a grinding apparatus. The container, when engaged with the grinding apparatus, can direct coffee beans toward the grinding apparatus and has a door that releases a controlled dose of beans. The grinding apparatus may have a movable tongue to cause excess grounds caught on interior components of the grinding apparatus to exit the grinding apparatus. The apparatus, systems, and methods reduce labor associated with grinding the material and allow a user, such as a barista, to more efficiently prepare brewed beverages, such as single-cup portions of coffee.