Coffee Grinder Absolute Grind Size Setting with Stop Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grinding devices for coffee beans lack the ability to set an absolute grind size, making it difficult to control coffee quality and flavor, especially in systems that require remote monitoring and maintenance, as adjustments are relative and laborious, and removal for maintenance is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The grinding device features an adjustable grinding body with stops limiting the adjustment range to a fixed setting, allowing for absolute control of grind size, facilitated by a stop mechanism and an actuator controlled by a memory unit for precise positioning, enabling easy maintenance and calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the adjustable grinding body is made removable for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but the ability to maintain absolute grind size setting is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The stop mechanism is pre-configured on the grinding housing to define the maximum clearance position. When the adjustable grinding body is reinstalled after maintenance, the adjusting means automatically engages with the stop, preliminarily establishing the reference position before any adjustment is made. This ensures that the grind size setting can be rapidly restored to the correct absolute value without requiring complex calibration procedures.
2Manufacturing precision
If the adjustment range is limited by stops, then manufacturing precision of grind size is improved, but adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic adjustability within the safe range defined by the stops. The adjustable grinding body can be freely adjusted between minimum and maximum clearance positions, allowing adaptation to different coffee types and preferences. The stops only limit the extreme positions, not the flexibility within the operational range, maintaining both precision and adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A grinding device comprises a grinding housing with mutually co-acting grinding bodies. A lower of the two grinding bodies is both driven and axially adjustable for the purpose of setting a grind size. An upper grinding body is removable. A grind size of the grinding device can be adjusted in absolute manner between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, corresponding to a fixed setting range between a minimal clearance between the two grinding surfaces and a maximum clearance between the two grinding surfaces. An extreme position of the adjustable grinding body is imposed by a stop which is encountered by the adjusting means in the relevant extreme position. A coffee machine uses the absolute grind size and/or a fine-tuning for an optimal contact time between coffee and through-flowing water.