Coffee Machine Load Cell Layout for Precise Cup Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines struggle to ensure uniform cup filling due to variables like water dispersion and coffee powder compression, which affect the amount of coffee dispensed, despite advancements in volumetric flow meters and load cells, as these components can become clogged with residues and fail to accurately detect weight changes.
Innovation Solution
Positioning the load cell inside the coffee machine body allows it to remain free from coffee residues and accurately detect cup weights in real-time, using suspended portions with load cells interfaced with an electronic control unit to calculate the exact coffee amount for 'normal', 'short', or 'long' coffees, ensuring precise filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the load cell is positioned under the grille to detect cup weight, then measurement precision is improved, but the load cell becomes clogged with coffee residues reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell is extracted from its traditional position under the grille and repositioned inside the coffee machine body. This removes the load cell from the harmful environment where coffee residues accumulate, allowing it to maintain measurement precision without being clogged by residues that fall through the grille.
Solution Approach 2:
A suspended portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cup and the load cell. The suspended portion transmits the weight of the cup to the load cell while keeping the load cell isolated from direct contact with coffee residues, thus maintaining both measurement accuracy and reliability.
2Productivity
If volumetric flow meter is used to measure water amount, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision of cup filling deteriorates due to water dispersion and coffee compression variables
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the load cell to monitor the actual weight of coffee in the cup in real-time. This feedback allows the control unit to adjust the water flow dynamically, compensating for variations in water dispersion and coffee compression, thereby ensuring uniform cup filling while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely volumetric measurement system with a hybrid system that incorporates gravitational weight measurement. By using the load cell to measure the actual weight of coffee dispensed, the system overcomes the limitations of volumetric measurement which cannot account for density variations caused by coffee compression and water dispersion.
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
This configuration ensures consistent coffee filling levels by preventing residue accumulation and accurately measuring coffee weight changes, enhancing operational reliability and precision in coffee machines.
Implementation Method 1
each load cell (14) contained in the body of the coffee machine and in any case in internal position on the front vertical wall (15) from which both the dispenser unit (7) with the filter-holders (9) and the supporting surface (12) for the cups protrude
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A professional coffee machine for bars, adapted to provide for the measured filling of cups according to the specific preference of the customer for a normal, a short or a long coffee.