Coffee Bean Cartridge Metering Chamber With Integrated Grinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee bean packaging systems for brewing apparatuses are cumbersome and expensive, with inefficiencies in assembly and operation, and do not effectively preserve coffee beans due to their size and design.
Innovation Solution
A coffee bean packaging cartridge with a metering chamber that integrates with the brewing apparatus, featuring a rotating bottom portion for grinding and a compact design that includes a conical shape for efficient bean transportation and grinding, allowing for easy connection and disconnection, and a sealing mechanism to prevent air exposure and bean loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a separate bottom plate of the metering chamber and a separate grinder are provided, then the system has sufficient grinding capacity, but the height of the system increases and assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate of the metering chamber is merged with the grinder into a single integrated component. The bottom plate includes a conical portion that rotates to transport coffee beans from the metering chamber into the grinder and simultaneously grinds the beans, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing system height and assembly complexity
2Loss of time
If coffee beans are ground beforehand and stored, then coffee beverage preparation is faster, but coffee flavor deteriorates due to air exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by transporting coffee beans to the metering chamber in advance, but delays the grinding action until the moment of beverage preparation. The rotatable bottom plate transports beans beforehand and grinds them only when needed, maintaining freshness while enabling quick preparation
3Device complexity
If a compact design with integrated bottom plate and grinder is used, then system height is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated bottom plate is segmented into functional zones: a stationary portion forming part of the metering chamber and a rotatable conical portion that performs both transport and grinding functions. This segmentation allows for manageable manufacturing precision requirements while achieving compact integration
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
The solution provides a more compact, cost-effective, and efficient coffee brewing system that preserves coffee beans better by grinding only what is needed, ensuring easy assembly and operation while maintaining flavor quality.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom portion is arranged in the coffee apparatus for rotating around an axis extending in a vertical direction. Upon activation of the grinder the bottom portion is rotating around the vertical axis for transporting the coffee beans from the metering chamber into the grinder and for grinding the coffee beans
Data Source
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AI summary
A coffee beverage system is described including a coffee bean packaging cartridge and a coffee brewing apparatus. The coffee beans packaging cartridge includes a container holding coffee beans and transportation means adapted for enabling transportation of the coffee beans towards an exit opening of the cartridge. The coffee apparatus comprises a grinder for grinding the coffee beans from the cartridge and a brewing device for brewing coffee on the basis of ground coffee obtained by means of the grinder. The system is further provided with a metering chamber for receiving coffee beans which are transported with the aid of the transportation means into the metering chamber. In use the metering chamber will hold a predetermined amount of coffee beans. The metering chamber comprises a bottom portion which forms a part of the grinder, said bottom portion being arranged in the coffee apparatus for rotating around an axis extending in a vertical direction.