Coffee Grinder Securing Mechanism for Easy Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee bean grinders are difficult to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning and maintenance, leading to residual coffee powder accumulation, which can cause undesirable taste and odor issues and potentially lethal aflatoxin formation in brewed coffee.
Innovation Solution
A coffee bean grinder design featuring a housing assembly, shaft component, and securing member, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly through a structural configuration that includes a shaft cap, elastic member, and securing mechanism, enabling effective cleaning and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the grinder structure is made compact and integrated, then the device size is reduced and aesthetics are improved, but disassembly and cleaning become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The grinder is divided into multiple separable components: an upper housing containing the dosing mechanism, a lower housing containing the grinding mechanism, and removable grinding burrs. This segmentation allows each component to be independently accessed and cleaned while maintaining a compact overall structure when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding burrs are designed to nest within the housing structure when not in use, and the upper housing can be nested within or alongside the lower housing. This nesting approach minimizes the device's footprint while preserving easy access to all cleaning surfaces through simple assembly/disassembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the grinder uses a complex securing mechanism to hold components firmly, then grinding stability is improved, but disassembly for cleaning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The securing mechanism uses a dynamic locking system with movable lugs and corresponding grooves that can be easily engaged and disengaged. The lugs can be manually moved to lock the grinding burrs firmly during operation, then easily released for cleaning, providing both stability during use and ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable securing component acts as an intermediary between the housing and grinding burrs. This intermediate element provides firm mechanical connection during grinding while allowing simple removal for cleaning, decoupling the stability function from the disassembly complexity.
3Loss of time
If coffee powder residue accumulates in the grinder, then the device requires less frequent disassembly, but toxic aflatoxin formation occurs and coffee taste deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grinder design incorporates preliminary cleaning features such as accessible surfaces and removable components that make quick cleaning possible. This preliminary ease of cleaning encourages frequent maintenance before residue accumulation becomes problematic, preventing aflatoxin formation while minimizing the time burden of cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding burrs and contact surfaces are designed to be self-cleaning through their geometry and material properties, with smooth surfaces that prevent residue adhesion and allow easy wiping. This self-service characteristic reduces the effort and time required for maintenance while ensuring thorough cleaning to prevent toxin formation.
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
Facilitates easy disassembly and cleaning of the grinder, preventing residual coffee powder accumulation and reducing the risk of aflatoxin formation, thereby ensuring better taste and safety of brewed coffee.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (133), wherein one end of the shaft member (131) passes through the elastic member (133) and the bearing component (112) in order; the elastic member (133) is disposed between the inner grinding member (132) and the bearing component (112), and two ends of the elastic member (133) support the inner grinding member (132) and the bearing component (112) respectively
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A coffee bean grinder is provided, comprising a housing assembly, a shaft component, and a securing member. The shaft component is assembled in the housing assembly. When a coffee bean grinding complex is formed by an inner grinding member of the shaft component and an outer grinding member of the housing assembly, the shaft component and the housing assembly can be easily assembled and secured through the structural configuration of the securing member, and also through which, the shaft component and the housing assembly can also be disassembled for cleaning and maintenance after grinding operation.