Compact Coffee Capsule Maker with Integrated Grinding and Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee capsule preparation systems are not suitable for domestic use due to complexity and suboptimal coffee quality, as they require manual operation and pre-ground coffee packaged in protective atmospheres, lacking automation and controlled manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A compact, electrical coffee capsule maker that integrates coffee grinding and automated packaging, featuring a rotating carousel, coffee grinder, sealing piston, and gear system for controlled coffee filling and sealing, allowing for precise coffee quantity and quality control, with a user-friendly interface for programming and error management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coffee capsules are pre-packaged in protective atmospheres with pre-ground coffee, then coffee preservation is improved, but device complexity and loss of aroma increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoffee preservationVSAvoidpackaging system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary grinding of coffee beans immediately before capsule filling, rather than pre-packaging ground coffee. This preliminary action ensures coffee is ground only when needed, preserving aroma while avoiding complex protective atmosphere packaging requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the coffee grinding function from separate pre-packaged coffee systems and integrates it directly into the capsule filling machine. This allows fresh grinding at the point of use, eliminating the need for complex protective packaging while maintaining coffee quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If automated capsule manufacturing is implemented, then productivity and coffee quality are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapsule manufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functions (coffee grinding, capsule filling, and sealing) into a single integrated automated system. This consolidation achieves high productivity through automation while avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule filling machine is designed as a multi-functional device that performs grinding, filling, and sealing operations in one integrated system. This universal approach improves productivity without requiring multiple separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If manual operation is used for capsule preparation, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and coffee quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcapsule preparation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service automation where the machine automatically performs grinding, measuring, filling, and sealing operations without requiring manual intervention for each capsule. This maintains relative simplicity while dramatically improving productivity and coffee quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables the automatic and hygienic production of high-quality coffee capsules suitable for domestic use, ensuring optimal aroma preservation and ease of use, while facilitating maintenance and cleaning with a cylindrical, dismountable design.

Implementation Method 1

a sealing piston having an electrical resistance for sealing the capsule cover on the capsule

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical resistance heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3312101B1Coffee capsule filling machine
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ ANDRES
  • EP3312101B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3312101B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention consists of a coffee capsule maker, a little electro household device which combine grounding coffee with packing capsules, commercial packing type, to use it on domestic coffee makers appliances for its similitude with the same commercialized type of capsules.