Coffee Grinder Shaft Layout for Flexible Machine Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grinder devices, such as coffee grinders, require multiple designs to accommodate various device geometries and user preferences, leading to increased production complexity, storage needs, and spare parts management challenges due to limited design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A grinder device design featuring a drive shaft device and grinding axis that can be positioned differently, including steplessly and discretely, allowing for a universal construction that covers a wide range of geometries, reducing the number of distinct types needed and simplifying assembly and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple grinder designs are produced to accommodate various device geometries and user preferences, then adaptability to different installations is improved, but production complexity and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different installationsVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grinder device is designed with a universal configuration where the drive shaft device can be positioned at multiple locations relative to the grinding axis. This allows a single grinder design to accommodate various device geometries and installation requirements without requiring multiple specialized designs, thereby improving adaptability while reducing production complexity and storage needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple grinder designs are produced to accommodate various device geometries, then adaptability is improved, but storage needs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different installationsVSAvoidstorage needs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By designing the grinder with a universal configuration that allows the drive shaft device to be positioned at multiple locations, the patent enables a single design to serve multiple installation scenarios. This eliminates the need to manufacture and store multiple different grinder designs, thereby reducing storage requirements while maintaining high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple grinder designs are produced to accommodate various device geometries, then adaptability is improved, but spare parts management challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different installationsVSAvoidspare parts management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The universal grinder design with variable drive shaft positioning means that a single set of spare parts can be used across all installations and configurations. This standardization simplifies spare parts management, reduces inventory complexity, and makes repair easier compared to having multiple specialized designs requiring different spare parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If a single universal grinder design is used, then production and storage requirements are reduced, but adaptability to various installations may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction requirementsVSAvoidadaptability to various installations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The grinder device incorporates dynamic positioning capability where the drive shaft device can be positioned at multiple locations relative to the grinding axis. This dynamic adjustability allows a single universal design to adapt to various installation geometries and user preferences, maintaining high versatility while simplifying production and storage requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3114975B1Grinder for coffee machines
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 JURA ELEKTROAPPARATE AG
  • EP3114975B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1d
  • EP3114975B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3b
  • EP3114975B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5b

AI summary

A coffee machine grinder (1, 25, 30) has two grinding bodies (4) that can be rotated relative to each other about a grinding axis of rotation (5) via a drive shaft device (10, 31) and a discharge opening (2) for ground material that is arranged laterally to the grinding elements (4). on. The drive shaft device (10, 31) is positioned differently from the grinding axis of rotation (5). The dispensing opening (2) and the drive shaft device (10, 31) can be positioned differently in relation to one another.