Coffee machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern coffee machines lose CO2 gas from coffee bean containers, leading to flavor preservation issues due to oxygen exposure and humidity, resulting in a decrease in coffee freshness and aroma.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a gas-tight closure device that minimizes CO2 escape by adjusting between open and closed positions, using a lock container flushed with inert gas and equipped with CO2 sensors and a drive device for automated adjustment, along with additional sensors for temperature and humidity monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the container opening is kept open for transferring coffee beans, then the ease of operation is improved, but the CO2 gas escapes quickly and protective gas effect is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A closure device is introduced as an intermediary component between the container opening and the external environment. This closure device seals the opening when not in use, preventing CO2 escape, while allowing easy opening when coffee bean transfer is needed, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and CO2 loss.
2Ease of operation
If the opening is opened to fill the container with coffee beans, then the ease of operation is improved, but air enters the container and CO2 escapes through the grinder opening
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device serves as a mediator that controls access to the container opening. When closed, it prevents both air entry and CO2 escape simultaneously. When opened for filling, it allows easy operation while the system can subsequently seal again to maintain protective atmosphere.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains an inert CO2-rich atmosphere inside the container by sealing it with the closure device. This prevents oxygen-containing air from entering and preserves the protective atmosphere that prevents coffee bean degradation.
3Reliability
If the opening remains closed to preserve CO2, then the protective gas effect is improved, but the ease of transferring coffee beans is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device provides dynamic control over the container opening - remaining closed to maintain protective gas effect and prevent CO2 loss, while allowing easy opening when coffee bean transfer is required. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between reliability of protective atmosphere and ease of operation.
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
Significantly reduces CO2 loss, maintaining coffee freshness and aroma by preventing ambient air entry and ensuring a protective gas atmosphere, thus enhancing the flavor preservation of coffee beans.
Implementation Method 1
at least one CO2 sensor in the container by means of which the CO2 content in the container can be determined
Implementation Method 2
the opening of the container for transferring coffee beans from the container into the grinder can be closed in a gas-tight manner
Implementation Method 3
The oxygen contained in the air and the humidity in the air have a strong negative effect on the aroma of the coffee. In the process, individual components of the coffee oxidize.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a coffee machine (1) with a container (2) for holding coffee beans (3). The coffee machine (1) also includes a grinder (4) for grinding the coffee beans (3) contained in the container (2). There is an opening (5) in the container (2) of the coffee machine (1), by means of which the coffee beans (3) can be fed from the container (2) to the grinder (4). The coffee machine (1) also includes a closure device (8) by means of which the opening (5) can be closed in a gas-tight manner. In this way, an undesired escape of the CO2 gas given off by the coffee beans in the container can be largely or even completely avoided.