Coffee bean grinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coffee bean grinders in professional environments suffer from mechanical component wear due to intensive use, leading to unreliable mechanical switches and increased maintenance needs, particularly in the detection of porta filters, which affects the grinding process reliability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Replace mechanical proximity sensors with contactless proximity sensors, such as ultrasonic, capacitive, or magnetic field sensors, to detect the presence and type of porta filters, ensuring consistent and reliable operation without moving parts, and providing additional control parameters like proper positioning and type identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If mechanical proximity sensors are used to detect porta filter presence, then the device can automatically trigger the grinding process, but the mechanical components suffer from high wear and unreliable operation due to intensive use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical proximity sensors with optical sensors that detect the porta filter through non-contact means. The optical sensor uses light beams to detect the presence and position of the porta filter without any physical contact, thereby eliminating mechanical wear and improving reliability while maintaining automatic grinding trigger functionality.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical switches are used for porta filter detection, then the grinding process can be controlled, but the switches malfunction or fail due to dirt accumulation and intensive use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical switches with optical detection systems that use light beams to sense the porta filter's presence and position. This non-contact optical detection method prevents dirt accumulation issues and maintains reliable grinding process control even under intensive professional use conditions.
3Reliability
If contactless proximity sensors are used to detect porta filters, then reliability and maintenance requirements improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements contactless optical proximity sensors that detect the porta filter using light beams. While this replaces simple mechanical components with more sophisticated optical systems, the overall device complexity is managed through integrated circuitry and control algorithms that process optical signals to trigger grinding operations, maintaining reliability without excessive complexity.
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
Contactless proximity sensors enhance the reliability and reduce maintenance by preventing mechanical failures, allowing precise control of the grinding process and reducing downtime, while enabling advanced features like type recognition and user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
Replace mechanical proximity sensors with contactless proximity sensors, such as ultrasonic, capacitive, or magnetic field sensors
Implementation Method 2
Replace mechanical proximity sensors with contactless proximity sensors, such as ultrasonic, capacitive, or magnetic field sensors
Implementation Method 3
Replace mechanical proximity sensors with contactless proximity sensors, such as ultrasonic, capacitive, or magnetic field sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Coffee bean grinder (1) comprising at least one grinder module (4), at least one supply of coffee beans (2) as well as a ground coffee dispensing area (6) with a bracket (13), onto which are porta filter (9) to be filled with ground coffee is put for the process of dispensing ground coffee into said porta filter (9), wherein the coffee bean grinder (1) comprises a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of a porta filter (9) on said bracket (13), and wherein said proximity sensor is at least indirectly coupled to a grinder control unit (5), characterised in that said proximity sensor is a contactless proximity sensor (16).