Coffee Grinding Unit with Timed Shutter Control to Prevent Bean Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines with multiple storage containers for different coffee beans often result in leftover beans from one container being ground along with the selected beans, leading to a mix of coffee beverages when switching between containers.
Innovation Solution
A grinding unit with movable shutters and an actuation unit that allows independent opening and closing of storage containers, coupled with a control unit to drive the grinding module for a predetermined time or number of rotations based on the opening time, ensuring all beans from the selected container are ground and none remain between containers or in the grinding module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the grinding module is used for dosing coffee beans based on grinding time and rotations per minute, then the coffee beans can be ground and dosed, but leftover beans from previous containers remain in the grinding module causing mixed coffee beverages when switching between containers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when a storage container is opened and pre-calculating the required grinding time and rotations based on the opening duration. This allows the grinding module to be precisely controlled to process only the intended portion of beans from the selected container, preventing leftover beans from mixing with subsequent selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the opening time of storage containers and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the grinding parameters. By measuring how long the container remains open, the system determines the exact amount of beans that should be ground and dosed, ensuring precise bean selection and preventing cross-contamination between different coffee types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple storage containers are used for different coffee beans, then variety in coffee beverages is achieved, but beans from different containers may mix in the grinding module
Solution Approach 1:
Before grinding begins, the system detects the opening of a specific storage container and pre-determines the grinding parameters based on the container's opening duration. This preliminary detection ensures that only beans from the currently opened container are processed, maintaining strict separation between different coffee types while allowing versatile selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses real-time feedback from the container opening detection to precisely control the grinding module's operation. By continuously monitoring which container is open and for how long, the system dynamically adjusts grinding time and rotations to process exactly the intended portion from the selected container, preventing any mixing with beans from other containers.
3Productivity
If the grinding module operates continuously for dosing, then efficient coffee beverage production is maintained, but it cannot clear leftover beans from previous selections
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the grinding parameters (time and rotations) based on the detected opening duration of the storage container. Instead of using fixed continuous grinding, the control unit calculates and adjusts the precise grinding duration and rotational count to match the actual amount of beans dispensed from the opened container, ensuring accurate dosing while maintaining efficient production.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses feedback from the container opening detection mechanism to continuously adjust grinding parameters. By measuring the opening time and using this information to calculate the required grinding duration and rotations, the system ensures that the grinding module processes exactly the right amount of beans, clearing the channel completely without leaving leftovers while maintaining high production efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A grinding unit (12) for selectively grinding beans (20), in particular coffee beans, is disclosed. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of storage containers (16, 18) for storing the beans (20) and a grinding module (14) associated to the storage containers for grinding the beans. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of shutters (28, 30), wherein each of the shutters is associated to one of the storage containers for feeding the beans from a selected storage container to the grinding module, wherein the shutters are movable with respect to each other to selectively feed the beans from the selected container to the grinding module. An actuation unit (46) is associated to the shutters for actuating the shutters and for opening and closing the storage containers independently. The grinding unit comprises a control unit (32) for controlling the actuation unit in order to open and close the selected storage container and for controlling the grinding module, wherein the control unit is adapted to start driving the grinding module after opening the selected container and to drive the grinding module for a predetermined time period or for a predetermined number of rotations after closing the selected storage container. The control unit is configured to determine said predetermined time period or said predetermined number of rotations, respectively, based on an opening time during which the selected storage container has been open.