Device for grinding coffee beans and relative control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee grinding devices fail to accurately dispense the correct quantity of ground coffee due to variability in user preferences and ancillary conditions such as coffee type, roasting, moisture content, and grinder wear, without considering the impact of mains electricity voltage fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A coffee grinding device with a user interface and electronic controller that associates grinding time values with mains electricity voltage values, allowing for adaptive adjustment of grinding time based on user selection and detected voltage, ensuring consistent coffee quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a time-based grinder control method is used to set the quantity of ground coffee, then the user can select the desired quantity via an interface, but the method does not take into account ancillary conditions such as mains electricity voltage fluctuations which affect the final result
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by measuring the actual mains electricity voltage during operation and using this information to adjust the grinding time. The controller continuously monitors voltage fluctuations and modifies the grinding parameters in real-time to compensate for their effect on the ground coffee quantity, ensuring consistent results despite varying electrical conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the grinding time parameter dynamically based on the detected mains voltage. When voltage fluctuations are detected, the controller adjusts the grinding time to compensate for their effect on the ground coffee quantity, transforming a static time-based control into a dynamic adaptive control system
2Device complexity
If the grinding time is fixed for each selectable quantity, then the device is simple to operate, but voltage fluctuations cause incorrect quantity of ground coffee to be dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces fixed mechanical timing control with an electronic control system that uses voltage sensing and adaptive algorithms. The controller measures mains voltage and dynamically calculates the appropriate grinding time, substituting rigid mechanical timing with flexible electronic adaptation to maintain precision under varying conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding time transitions from a static fixed value to a dynamic parameter that adapts in real-time based on voltage conditions. The system continuously adjusts the grinding duration to compensate for voltage fluctuations, making the control system responsive and adaptive rather than rigid and predetermined
3Reliability
If the grinder operates without compensating for mains electricity voltage variations, then the device is simple and reliable, but the quantity of ground coffee varies due to voltage impact on motor speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by measuring the actual mains electricity voltage during operation and using this information to adjust the grinding time. The controller continuously monitors voltage fluctuations and modifies the grinding parameters in real-time to compensate for their effect on the ground coffee quantity, ensuring consistent results despite varying electrical conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the mains voltage before initiating the grinding process. Based on this pre-measurement, the controller pre-calculates and sets the appropriate grinding time to compensate for the detected voltage level, ensuring accurate ground coffee quantity from the start of operation
Data Source
AI summary
The grinding device for grinding coffee beans comprises an interface for the user for selecting the quantity of ground coffee in a range of values of selectable quantities of ground coffee, an electric motor supplied by mains electricity voltage for driving the grinders, means for measuring the mains electricity voltage and an electronic controller configured to: associate, for each value of a selectable quantity of ground coffee, a series of grinding time values with a series of corresponding values of the mains electricity voltage; acquire a value of a quantity of ground coffee selected by the user via the interface; detect by the measuring means a value of the mains electricity voltage; for the acquired value of a quantity of ground coffee selected by the user, set the grinding time value corresponding to the detected mainly electricity voltage value; and drive the grinders for the set grinding time value.