Coffee Bean Container Module With Portioning and Grind Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines fail to ensure optimal coffee aroma and consistency due to residual coffee powder issues, incorrect grinding degrees, and the mixing of different coffee types, leading to a compromised flavor experience.
Innovation Solution
A coffee apparatus with a container module that includes a coffee bean container and a portioning device, allowing for user-selectable settings of metered quantity and grinding degree, which are fixed to the type of coffee bean and automatically implemented when the module is connected to the machine, ensuring fresh coffee without residual flavors and correct grinding for each brew.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single bean container and grinder are used in existing coffee machines, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but residual coffee powder from previous preparations mixes with new coffee beans, compromising aroma and flavor
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the bean storage into multiple independent compartments (first bean container and second bean container) that are physically separated. Each compartment has its own associated grinder, preventing cross-contamination of coffee beans and ground powder between different coffee types or preparations. This segmentation allows complete isolation of residual materials in each compartment while maintaining overall system simplicity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple bean containers with separate grinders are used, then residual flavor contamination is eliminated, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly for domestic use
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single grinder that can process beans from either the first bean container or the second bean container. This universal grinder design eliminates the need for separate grinders for each bean container, reducing device complexity and cost while still preventing contamination by allowing selective operation with one container at a time. The grinder serves multiple functions: processing espresso beans, latte coffee beans, and lungo beans without requiring duplicate hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the grinding function into a single shared component that serves both bean containers, rather than having separate grinders for each container. This consolidation reduces the number of parts, lowers manufacturing cost, and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the benefit of separate bean storage compartments that prevent contamination.
3Ease of operation
If the same grinding degree is used for all coffee types, then the device operation is simplified, but the manufacturing precision of coffee preparation is compromised as different coffee types require different grinding degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic adjustment of grinding degree through variable settings on the grinder, allowing the grinding parameters to change based on the specific coffee type being processed. The grinder can be configured with different grinding degrees for espresso beans, latte coffee beans, and lungo beans, enabling optimal extraction for each coffee type while maintaining a unified device structure that simplifies operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A unit of a coffee apparatus, in particular a coffee machine for brewing a coffee drink, includes a coffee bean container for storing the coffee beans, a portioner for portioning the coffee beans for an individual portion, and a grinder for grinding the portioned coffee beans. The coffee bean container and the portioner are formed in a common container module. The unit has a module receptacle, by which the container module can be connected during use and removed after use, and the container module has settings for a portion amount and a degree of grinding, which can be selected by the user. The portion amount setting influences the portioner and the degree of grinding setting influences the grinder. A simple, cost-effective and easy-to-use information exchange module between coffee container and coffee apparatus is thereby created.