Coffee Densifier Load Control for Consistent Bulk Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial coffee grinders face limitations in achieving high coffee density without overheating the coffee and incurring excessive energy consumption, as well as maintaining consistent coffee density output.
Innovation Solution
A coffee densifier with an elongated chamber, a densifier motor, a shaft with densifier members, a discharge door actuator, and a controller that adjusts the coffee density by monitoring the motor load and controlling the discharge door to optimize coffee density and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If paddle mixing is used to increase coffee bulk density, then coffee density is improved, but excessive heat is generated which over roasts the coffee
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional paddle mixing with a vibratory mechanism that uses mechanical vibrations to densify coffee. The vibratory densifier applies controlled vibrations to the coffee grounds, causing particles to settle into a denser configuration without the excessive mechanical agitation and heat generation caused by paddle mixers. This substitution of the mixing mechanism resolves the contradiction by achieving densification through vibration rather than mechanical stirring.
2Quantity of substance
If paddle mixing is used to increase coffee bulk density, then coffee density is improved, but excessive energy is consumed by the mixing motor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive paddle mixing with a vibratory densification system. The vibratory mechanism requires significantly less motor power to achieve the same or better densification results. By using vibrations rather than continuous mechanical stirring, the system reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective coffee densification.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional paddle mixers are used, then coffee mixing is achieved, but coffee density higher than achievable by prior art is not attained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex paddle mixing mechanisms with a simpler vibratory densifier system. The vibratory mechanism consists of a motor-driven eccentric weight or unbalanced rotor that generates vibrations, which is mechanically simpler than a paddle assembly with multiple moving parts. This substitution achieves superior coffee density while reducing device complexity.
4Quantity of substance
If paddle mixing is used to densify coffee, then some density improvement is achieved, but excessive drag is imparted on the mixing motor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces paddle mixing with vibratory densification, eliminating the excessive drag problem. The vibratory mechanism transfers energy through vibrations rather than direct mechanical contact and friction between paddles and coffee grounds. This results in significantly reduced motor drag while maintaining effective densification.
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 achieves a higher coffee density with reduced energy consumption and maintains consistent coffee density output, reducing coffee chaff and heat generation compared to prior art mixers.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of densifier members are fixed to the shaft and configured to polish a plurality of coffee particles of the ground coffee within the elongated chamber when the plurality of densifier members are rotated by the shaft through the ground coffee within the mixing chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A coffee densifier is disclosed. The coffee densifier comprises an elongated chamber, a densifier motor, a shaft, a plurality of densifier members, a discharge door actuator, a densifier motor load sensor, and a controller. The plurality of densifier members are fixed to the shaft and configured to polish a plurality of coffee particles of the ground coffee within the elongated chamber when the plurality of densifier members are rotated by the shaft through the ground coffee within the mixing chamber. The controller configured to signal the discharge door actuator to move the discharge door to increase or decrease a density of the ground coffee exiting the chamber through the discharge opening when the densifier motor load is outside a predefined densifier motor load operating range.