Anti-static grinder device for grinding roasted coffee beans for beverage preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee bean grinders generate electrostatic charges during the grinding process, leading to coffee grounds adhering to the grinding chamber and dispensing conduit, resulting in weight loss and flow irregularities, which prior solutions like vibratory motion and air ionization do not fully address.
Innovation Solution
A coffee bean grinding device that increases the moisture of roasted coffee beans by spraying a predetermined amount of a wetting substance, such as water, based on the beans' and environment's moisture content, to reduce electrostatic charges, featuring a reservoir, pump, and sensors to control the wetting substance delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If roasted coffee beans are ground using conventional grinders, then coffee grounds are produced, but electrostatic charges cause coffee grounds to adhere to the grinding chamber and dispensing conduit walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of moisture content in the coffee beans by spraying a predetermined amount of liquid (water or water-based solution) onto the beans before grinding. This parameter change reduces electrostatic charge generation during grinding, preventing coffee grounds from adhering to the grinding chamber and dispensing conduit walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by moisturizing the coffee beans before they enter the grinding process. The liquid is sprayed onto the beans in advance, allowing the moisture to be absorbed and distributed throughout the beans before grinding occurs, thereby preventing electrostatic adhesion issues during and after grinding.
2Productivity
If electrostatic charges are present in ground coffee, then coffee grounds are dispensed, but weight loss occurs due to grounds adhering to chamber and conduit walls
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the moisture parameter of the coffee beans before grinding, the patent reduces electrostatic charge accumulation. This ensures that the dispensed coffee dose accurately reflects the predetermined amount, eliminating weight loss due to adhesion and improving dosing precision.
3Productivity
If electrostatic charges accumulate in coffee grounds, then coffee is ground and dispensed, but conduit blockages occur due to attracted grounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrostatic properties of coffee grounds by adjusting the moisture content before grinding. This parameter change prevents electrostatic attraction between grounds and conduit walls, ensuring consistent flow and preventing blockages, thereby improving system reliability.
4Loss of substance
If a wetting substance is sprayed on coffee beans to reduce electrostatic charges, then adhesion loss is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the liquid spraying system into the existing grinder architecture, where the spray device can be incorporated into the hopper or feed mechanism. The system uses a predetermined amount of liquid stored in a simple reservoir, avoiding complex control systems while achieving the anti-adhesion effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple, inexpensive liquid reservoir and spray mechanism that can be easily refilled or replaced. The liquid itself (water or water-based solution) is cheap and readily available, making the overall system cost-effective despite the added components.
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
Reduces weight loss due to electrostatic charges from 2.8 grams to 0.2 grams, ensuring a more accurate coffee dose and preventing conduit blockages, thereby improving the grinding process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the moisture degree in the roasted coffee beans is increased by spraying them with a predetermined quantity of a wetting substance, e.g. a few drops of water, as they enter the grinding chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
It it described a roasted coffee bean grinder device comprising a grinding chamber (2), a pair of grinders, one on top of the other, housed within said grinding chamber, one of said grinders being rotatable relative to the other which is kept stationary, a support for at least said rotatable grinder, a drive member (4), connected to said support for rotating said rotatable grinder, an electronic control and command unit (16). The grinding chamber (2), containing said grinders, has a first opening (5a) for introducing the roasted coffee beans to be ground between the grinders and a second opening for discharging the ground product. The device includes an apparatus for moistening the beans of the product to be ground, which is adapted to feed a predetermined amount of wetting substance, particularly water, to the roasted coffee beans to be ground, to prevent the formation of electrostatic charges in the ground product and reduce the weight loss in ground coffee with respect to the predetermined weight dose of the beans to be ground. The added dose of wetting substance is determined as a function of the amount of beans to be ground.