Grinder for grinding material to be ground
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grinders for coffee beans face issues with unreliable sealing against splinters when varying the degree of grinding, leading to soiling and inefficient particle containment due to gaps between the collar seal and container.
Innovation Solution
A collar seal design with a first annular section stationary relative to the container and a second annular section connected via an elastically deformable spring element, ensuring consistent contact and preventing splinters from escaping, even when the second grinding tool is moved axially.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the collar seal is made of elastic material and mounted on the second grinding tool to allow axial movement for changing grinding degree, then the adaptability to different grinding settings is improved, but gaps occur between the collar seal and container allowing splinters to escape
Solution Approach 1:
The collar seal is divided into two separate annular sections: a first annular section that remains stationary relative to the container and a second annular section that moves axially with the second grinding tool. This segmentation allows each section to fulfill its specific function - the first section maintains sealing contact with the container while the second section accommodates the movable grinding tool, thereby preventing splinter escape while enabling grinding degree adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The first annular section of the collar seal acts as an intermediary element between the container and the second annular section. It provides a stable sealing interface with the container while the second annular section (connected via spring element) can move independently to adjust the grinding gap, thus mediating between the stationary container and the movable grinding tool to maintain both sealing and adaptability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the collar seal is made of soft flexible material to adapt to container shape, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but the collar seal deforms under pressure from splinters and gaps occur
Solution Approach 1:
The collar seal is segmented into a first annular section that provides structural strength and resistance to splinter pressure, and a second annular section that can be made of softer, more flexible material for easier assembly. This segmentation allows the first section to bear the mechanical load from splinters while the second section maintains adaptability and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the collar seal have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The first annular section, which contacts the container and bears splinter pressure, is made of stronger, more rigid material. The second annular section, which needs to accommodate axial movement and seal with the grinding tool, can be made of softer, more flexible material, thus optimizing both strength and ease of manufacture in different locations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the second grinding tool is made axially movable to change grinding gap dimensions, then the adaptability to produce different powder fineness is improved, but gaps occur between the collar seal and container causing soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The collar seal is segmented into a stationary first annular section that maintains constant sealing contact with the container, and a movable second annular section that moves with the second grinding tool. This segmentation ensures that the sealing function is decoupled from the adjustment function, allowing the second grinding tool to move axially for changing powder fineness while the first annular section prevents splinter escape and soiling.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the entire collar seal on the movable second grinding tool (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by mounting only the second annular section on the movable tool while keeping the first annular section stationary relative to the container. This inversion ensures that the primary sealing function remains stationary and reliable while still allowing the necessary movement for grinding adjustment.
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 reliable sealing against splinters across a wide range of grinding settings, preventing soiling and ensuring efficient particle containment, while accommodating tolerances and maintaining stable positioning of the container.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one connecting section is designed as an elastically deformable spring element
Data Source
AI summary
The grinder includes a container having a discharge opening for material to be ground; first and second grinding tools, the first tool rotatable relative to the second grinding tool about a rotation axis for crushing the material in a gap between the tools. The second tool has an inlet channel limited by a wall section around the axis for supplying material into the gap and is moveable relative to the first tool axially to the axis. A collar seal between container and second tool has a through-channel for discharging material into the inlet channel and is stationary relative to the container so that a first annular collar seal section limiting the through-channel contacts the container and overlaps the second tool wall section toward the axis. The collar seal includes a second annular section connected to the first annular section via an elastic spring and supported on a contact surface.