Device for dosing coffee beans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines fail to ensure optimal coffee aroma due to residual coffee powder mixing with freshly ground beans, leading to rancid taste and inconsistent brewing, and lack a cost-effective solution for precise coffee dosing and grinding.
Innovation Solution
A device with a variable metering chamber and adjustable grinding mechanism, allowing for simple and inexpensive coffee bean processing without the need for sensors, enabling easy cleaning and user-selectable settings for dosage and grind fineness, ensuring fresh coffee without flavor impairment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a coffee machine uses a grinder and powder channel for coffee preparation, then coffee can be ground and brewed, but residual coffee powder remains in the grinder and powder channel mixing with fresh coffee beans
Solution Approach 1:
The coffee preparation system is divided into separate functional modules: a removable container module with its own grinder, a separate brewing unit, and a dosing chamber. This segmentation allows the grinder to be completely removed from the brewing path, eliminating residual powder contamination while maintaining efficient coffee preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinder is extracted from the main brewing unit and integrated into a removable container module. This extraction allows the grinder to be completely separated from the powder channel and brewing chamber, preventing residual coffee powder from contaminating fresh beans while preserving the grinding function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If machine manufacturers recommend throwing away 2 or 3 coffees after non-use, then residual coffee powder is discarded, but time is lost and coffee is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the coffee preparation system into a removable container module and a permanent brewing unit, the invention eliminates the need to discard coffee. The sealed container module prevents residual powder contamination, allowing users to brew immediately without wasting time or coffee.
Solution Approach 2:
The container module is prepared in advance with coffee beans stored in a sealed container and a dedicated grinder. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for discarding coffee after non-use, as the sealed module prevents rancidification and contamination throughout storage.
3Measurement precision
If a device uses sensors or electronic measuring equipment for coffee dosing, then precise dosage can be achieved, but the device becomes expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a simple mechanical dosing chamber with adjustable volume that can be manually filled and emptied. This disposable-like approach with a simple, replaceable container module achieves precise dosing without expensive sensors or electronics, keeping the device simple and affordable.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing precision is achieved by mechanically adjusting the volume of the dosing chamber rather than using electronic sensors. The adjustable chamber volume provides precise dosage control through physical parameter changes, eliminating the need for complex electronic measurement systems.
4Ease of manufacture
If coffee beans are ground immediately before preparation, then optimal aroma is achieved, but residual powder in the grinder mixes with fresh ground coffee
Solution Approach 1:
The grinder is extracted from the brewing unit and placed in a removable container module that can be completely removed from the brewing path. This allows immediate grinding of fresh beans while preventing any contact between ground coffee and residual powder in the separate brewing chamber, maintaining optimal aroma.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the grinding and brewing functions into separate modules. The container module with its integrated grinder can be removed entirely from the brewing path, allowing fresh beans to be ground immediately before brewing without any risk of mixing with residual powder, thus preserving optimal coffee aroma.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for dosing coffee beans to select a portion to be ground comprises a portioner (2) with a dosing chamber (200, 210) whose capacity for holding the coffee beans is variable. The portioner (2) preferably has a first and a second chamber part (20, 21), between which the dosing chamber (200, 210) is formed and whose distance from each other is variable. The device preferably has an adjustment ring (12) for manually setting a dose, thereby allowing the distance between the two chamber parts (20, 21) and the capacity of the dosing chamber (200, 210) to be varied.