Grinder for coffee machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing grinding devices for coffee beans, such as fully automated coffee machines and electric domestic coffee grinders, face challenges in design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency due to the need for multiple differently designed grinder subassemblies, leading to increased production and stock-keeping complexities and costs.
Innovation Solution
A grinding device design featuring a first and second grinding element with an output opening device, where the driveshaft device is positioned divergently relative to the rotational grinding axis, allowing for various angular and positional configurations, enabling a universal construction that reduces the number of required subassemblies and simplifies assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple differently designed grinder subassemblies are used to satisfy various user preferences and aesthetic considerations, then product variety and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single standardized grinder subassembly that can be configured in multiple orientations (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) to satisfy different aesthetic preferences and integration requirements. This universal design allows the same component to serve multiple functions and aesthetic roles without requiring separate specialized subassemblies for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by making the grinder subassembly rotatable or reconfigurable within the coffee machine housing. The subassembly can be positioned at different angular orientations while maintaining its grinding function, allowing the system to adapt to different aesthetic requirements and spatial configurations without changing the fundamental design of the subassembly itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple differently designed grinder subassemblies are produced to meet diverse product requirements, then adaptability is improved, but production costs and stock-keeping complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a single standardized grinder subassembly design that can be manufactured once and used in multiple configurations. This eliminates the need to produce and stock multiple differently designed subassemblies, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity, production costs, and inventory requirements while still providing product variety through configurational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the grinder subassembly into a standardized modular unit that can be independently manufactured and then integrated into different coffee machine models. This modular approach allows for efficient mass production of a single subassembly design that can be adapted to various product configurations, improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing stock-keeping complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the driveshaft device is positioned divergently from the rotational grinding axis, then adaptability and configuration flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by positioning the driveshaft device divergently from the rotational grinding axis, introducing a spatial offset that allows for flexible configuration options. This divergent positioning enables the grinder subassembly to be integrated in multiple orientations and configurations within the coffee machine housing, providing adaptability while managing mechanical complexity through careful spatial arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated coffee machine grinder features two grinding bodies that are rotatable relative to one another about a rotational grinding axis using a driveshaft device as well as an output opening for ground material arranged laterally of the grinding elements. The driveshaft device is positioned divergent from the rotational grinding axis. The output opening and the driveshaft device can be positioned differently relative to one another.