Coffee grinder-doser provided with means of protection of the weighing device with respect to the coffee powder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee grinder-dosers face issues with precision in dispensing coffee powder due to infiltration of coffee powder and dirt into the weighing mechanism, leading to inaccurate measurements and the need for frequent cleaning, which is inconvenient and impractical.
Innovation Solution
The coffee grinder-doser incorporates protection means, such as a block with sloping portions and additional barriers, to divert and prevent coffee powder from entering the weighing device's hollow body, ensuring accurate weight measurements and reducing maintenance frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the weighing device is exposed to coffee powder for dispensing, then the dispensing function is enabled, but coffee powder infiltrates the weighing mechanism causing measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional zones: a dispensing zone where coffee powder is handled and a protected weighing zone where the load cell operates. The hollow body enclosing the load cell creates a physical separation, allowing the weighing function to remain isolated from coffee powder contamination while still performing its measurement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow body acts as an intermediary barrier between the coffee powder environment and the weighing mechanism. It allows the transmission of force (weight measurement) while blocking the infiltration of coffee powder, thus mediating between the dispensing function and the weighing function without allowing direct contact between coffee powder and the load cell.
2Measurement precision
If the hollow body is enclosed to protect the weighing device, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but coffee powder cannot be properly dispensed and conveyed
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow body enclosing the load cell is designed with controlled openings that allow flexible interaction with the dispensing process. These openings permit the conveyance of coffee powder through the dispensing zone while maintaining the protective enclosure around the weighing mechanism, balancing isolation with functional access.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the protection from a two-dimensional surface barrier to a three-dimensional enclosed volume. By creating a hollow body that surrounds the load cell in three dimensions, the design provides comprehensive protection while allowing controlled access points for the dispensing function to operate externally.
3Measurement precision
If cleaning is performed frequently to remove coffee powder from the weighing mechanism, then measurement accuracy is restored, but maintenance complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow body enclosure provides preliminary protection by preventing coffee powder from reaching the weighing mechanism in the first place. This preventive design eliminates the need for corrective cleaning actions, as the contamination problem is addressed before it can occur, thereby reducing maintenance complexity and frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighing mechanism is extracted from the main dispensing environment and placed inside a separate hollow body. This extraction isolates the sensitive weighing components from the contaminating coffee powder environment, allowing the weighing function to operate independently without requiring frequent cleaning interventions.
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
This solution maintains precise dispensing of coffee powder over time by preventing powder infiltration, ensuring accurate weight measurements and delaying the need for maintenance, thus consistently providing the set amount of coffee powder.
Implementation Method 1
a container or conveyor of the coffee beans to be ground placed not below said grinding chamber in such a way as to convey said beans by gravity towards the grinding chamber
Implementation Method 2
to protect the elastic element which determines the weighing from foreign elements (such as coffee powder) which could limit the movements of the elastic body (a classic example is that of load cell)
Data Source
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AI summary
Coffee grinder-doser (4) comprising a grinder-doser body (8), a containment compartment (12) which contains an electric motor (16) and at least a coffee grinder (20) operatively connected to said electric motor (16), configured to grind coffee beans into grounds, a conveyor (32) of said ground coffee, a support (40) for a container (44) suitable to receive the ground coffee from an output (36) of said conveyor (32), the support (40) being mechanically connected to a weighing device (48) by pulley means (52), the weighing device (48) being placed inside hollow body (201). Advantageously, the pulley means (52) comprise a block (56) which discharges the weight from the support (40) to the weighing device (48), said block (56) crossing a front opening (60) of the hollow body (201). The grinder-doser (4) comprises means of protecting (64) the ground coffee joined to the block (56) in order to divert and/or increase the path of the ground coffee to enter the hollow body (201) through the front opening (60).