Coffee Grinder Conductive Receptacle for Static Charge Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coffee bean grinders face issues with fine particles accumulating due to electrostatic charges on the stream of particles exiting the grinding apparatus, and existing methods to neutralize these charges are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A coffee bean grinder design that includes a grinding apparatus, a hopper, a receptacle made of electrically conductive material, and an electrical ground contact positioned to contact the receptacle when it receives ground coffee beans, effectively neutralizing the electrostatic charge by ensuring the ground coffee beans pass through a conductive path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ground coffee beans pass through or contact an electrically conductive material connected to ground to neutralize electrostatic charge, then the electrostatic charge is reduced, but fine particles still accumulate on surfaces due to residual electrostatic effects
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically conductive receptacle serves as an intermediary between the ground coffee discharge and the ground contact. The receptacle receives ground coffee beans, maintains electrical contact with ground through a dedicated contact, and allows beans to pass through it, ensuring continuous neutralization of electrostatic charge during the entire collection process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical neutralization methods (such as contact with conductive bars or plates) with an electrical grounding system integrated into the receptacle. The conductive receptacle creates an electrical pathway to ground, substituting mechanical contact-based neutralization with an electrical field-based approach that more effectively prevents fine particle accumulation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a conductive material is placed in the ground coffee discharge path to neutralize charge, then electrostatic charge is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle performs multiple functions: it collects ground coffee beans, provides a pathway for beans to pass through, maintains electrical contact with ground, and neutralizes electrostatic charge. By integrating these functions into a single component rather than adding separate neutralization devices, the system avoids increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the coffee collection function and the electrostatic neutralization function into a single integrated system. The conductive receptacle combines the bean receptacle and the neutralization element, eliminating the need for separate neutralization components and simplifying the overall device structure
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 design effectively minimizes or neutralizes the electrostatic charge on ground coffee beans, preventing accumulation and ensuring efficient collection in the receptacle.
Implementation Method 1
The receptacle includes an electrically conductive material and is removable from a location where the receptacle is arranged to receive ground coffee beans from the grinding apparatus. The electrical ground contact is electrically connected with ground and is positioned with respect to the grinding apparatus such that when the receptacle is arranged to receive ground coffee beans from the grinding apparatus, the electrically ground contact contacts the receptacle.
Data Source
AI summary
A coffee bean grinder includes a grinding apparatus, a hopper, a receptacle, and an electrical ground contact. The hopper is arranged with respect to the grinding apparatus for feeding coffee beans to the grinding apparatus. The receptacle is for receiving coffee beans that have been ground by the grounding apparatus. The receptacle includes an electrically conductive material and is removable from a location where the receptacle is arranged to receive ground coffee beans from the grinding apparatus. The electrical ground contact is electrically connected with ground and is positioned with respect to the grinding apparatus such that when the receptacle is arranged to receive ground coffee beans from the grinding apparatus, the electrically ground contact contacts the receptacle.