Coffee Bean Vacuum Loading for Built-In Automatic Coffee Makers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fully automatic coffee machines require large filling openings for coffee beans and water, making them inconvenient to use and requiring frequent removal from built-in installations for maintenance and service.
Innovation Solution
An airflow-based vacuum device transports coffee beans from a storage container to the bean container using a flexible hose, allowing for easy filling from the front of the machine and eliminating the need for large openings, with automatic switch-off when the bean container is full.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If large filling openings are provided for coffee beans and water, then the bean container can be easily filled, but the device requires frequent removal from built-in installations and needs more space for service access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vacuum device that creates a pressure difference to suction coffee beans through a flexible hose into the bean container. This pneumatic approach eliminates the need for large filling openings, as beans are drawn through a narrow hose rather than being poured through a wide opening, thereby resolving the contradiction between easy filling and compact service access
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible hose acts as an intermediary element between the external coffee bean source and the internal bean container. This hose enables the transfer of beans without requiring direct access to a large opening, allowing the device to maintain a compact built-in installation while still enabling convenient filling operations
2Ease of operation
If the bean container is made freely accessible for filling, then filling is simplified, but the device cannot be compactly installed in built-in applications
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum-based pneumatic transport system allows coffee beans to be suctioned through a flexible hose directly into the bean container, eliminating the need for large accessible openings. This enables compact built-in installation while maintaining easy filling capability through the flexible hose interface
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible hose serves as a flexible connection that can be extended when needed for filling and retracted when not in use. This flexible element allows the device to maintain a compact form factor for built-in installation while providing easy access for filling operations when required
3Device complexity
If conventional gravity-based filling is used, then the filling process is simple, but large filling openings are required and the device must be frequently removed for service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple gravity-based filling with a vacuum pneumatic system that actively sucks coffee beans through a hose. While this adds a vacuum mechanism, it eliminates the need for large openings and frequent service removal, as the sealed hose connection allows the device to remain installed during filling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the passive mechanical gravity-based filling system with an active pneumatic vacuum system. This substitution replaces the need for large mechanical openings with a sealed pneumatic hose connection, reducing service frequency despite adding vacuum mechanism complexity
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
This solution simplifies the filling process, reduces the need for frequent service and repair, and allows for more compact and convenient operation of the machine, enabling easy access and maintenance without extending the device.
Implementation Method 1
The fully automatic coffee machine has a vacuum device as a transport device. It can be conveniently stored inside the fully automatic machine according to the vacuum cleaner principle.
Implementation Method 2
The transport device creates an air stream into which coffee beans are introduced and which carries the beans along and thus transports them into the bean container.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A fully automatic coffee machine for household purposes, in particular a built-in fully automatic coffee machine, with a bean container (11) for storing coffee beans for preparing coffee drinks, is developed by an airflow-based transport device (16) for coffee beans, which loads the bean container (11) during operation.