Coffee grinder with varying speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee grinders fail to consistently produce high-quality ground coffee due to empirical regulation of coffee dose, inefficiencies in automatic grinders, and inability to adjust grinding speed, leading to poorly balanced drinks and aroma loss.
Innovation Solution
A coffee grinder with a varying speed motor, controlled by an inverter and user-adjustable via a control panel, which allows for precise speed curves based on coffee blend and environmental conditions, ensuring optimal grinding speed for quality and dose accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If coffee is ground at high speed to increase productivity, then grinding time is reduced, but coffee overheating occurs and organoleptic features are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the grinding speed variable rather than constant. The control unit adjusts the motor speed dynamically during the grinding cycle, starting at high speed for efficiency and reducing to low speed near the end to avoid overheating and preserve coffee quality. This resolves the contradiction between productivity and temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through multi-phase grinding cycles with different speed profiles. The grinding process is divided into phases: initial high-speed grinding for productivity, intermediate speed adjustment, and final low-speed grinding to prevent overheating. This periodic variation in speed resolves the contradiction between maintaining high productivity and preventing temperature rise.
2Measurement precision
If automatic coffee grinders use preset actuation time to ensure correct dose supply, then operator responsibility is eliminated, but grinding precision deteriorates due to various affecting factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using sensors to detect actual grinding parameters (current, speed, temperature) and adjusting the motor control accordingly. The control unit receives feedback from the inverter and sensors to maintain precise dose supply despite variations in bean hardness, blade wear, or environmental conditions. This resolves the contradiction between automation and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting motor speed, power, and temperature parameters during grinding based on detected conditions. The system modifies grinding parameters in real-time to compensate for blade wear, bean variability, and environmental factors, ensuring consistent dose accuracy while maintaining reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If constant speed motor is used in coffee grinders, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different coffee blends and work loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the constant speed motor with a variable speed motor controlled by an inverter. The control unit adjusts motor speed dynamically based on coffee blend requirements, work load, and environmental conditions. This provides adaptability to different grinding scenarios while the control system manages the complexity through automated algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a motor control system that can handle multiple coffee types, work loads, and environmental conditions through a single integrated system. The inverter and control unit provide multi-functionality by adjusting parameters for different coffee blends, dosing requirements, and temperature conditions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized motors.
4Manufacturing precision
If low grinding speed is used to preserve coffee quality, then organoleptic features are maintained, but grinding time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by varying the grinding speed in phases during the grinding cycle. High speed is used initially to reduce overall grinding time, then speed is reduced in later phases to preserve coffee quality and prevent overheating. This periodic speed variation resolves the contradiction between quality and time by optimizing both throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making grinding speed variable rather than constant throughout the process. The control system dynamically adjusts speed based on the grinding phase, coffee blend, and temperature conditions, achieving both quality preservation and time efficiency through optimized speed profiles rather than consistently low speed.
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
The coffee grinder ensures precise and reliable coffee dosing, preserves organoleptic features by adjusting speed according to work load and environmental conditions, maintaining coffee quality and aroma by minimizing overheating and adapting to different coffee blends and humidity levels.
Implementation Method 1
an inverter connected to said electric motor to vary the speed of said electric motor
Implementation Method 2
a coffee grinder having a varying speed motor with the purpose of ejecting the residues of ground coffee by means of the centrifugal force in order to clean the grinding chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Coffee grinder including a grinding assembly to grind coffee beans, a container or hopper to feed coffee beans to the grinding assembly, an electric motor connected to the grinding assembly, a feeding conduit connected to the grinding assembly to feed coffee into a filter supported by a filter-holder, an inverter connected to the electric motor to vary the speed of the electric motor, a control unit connected to the inverter to control the inverter, and a control panel connected to the inverter by the control unit so that the user can vary the speed of the electric motor.