Coffee Machine Feedback Dosing for Ground Coffee Quantity Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generic coffee machines produce inhomogeneous coffee due to fluctuations in coffee bean size and moisture content, leading to inconsistent taste and quality, with limited user intervention options, particularly problematic in high-frequency catering environments.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with detection means for measuring the volume of ground coffee on the outlet side of the grinding unit, generating a feedback signal to adjust the dosing of coffee beans, ensuring a consistent quantity of ground coffee is produced, regardless of bean type or environmental conditions, through a control system that compares the detected volume with a target value and adjusts the bean input quantity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control of grinder running time and grinding fineness is used to adjust taste impression, then user intervention flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision of ground coffee quantity is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a sensor detects the actual quantity of ground coffee produced, compares it with the target quantity, and automatically adjusts the dosing of coffee beans for subsequent brewing cycles. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining precise control over ground coffee quantity consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The coffee machine performs self-adjustment of bean dosing based on detected ground coffee quantity variations. The control system automatically compensates for fluctuations in ground coffee output by adjusting the next dosing cycle, enabling the machine to self-correct without user intervention and maintain consistent manufacturing precision.
2Ease of operation
If fixed dosing of coffee beans is used to simplify operation, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision of ground coffee quantity is deteriorated due to bean variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a sensor to detect the actual ground coffee quantity produced from each dosing cycle and feeds this information back to the control system. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically adjusts the dosing amount for the next cycle, compensating for variations in bean properties without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors and actuators to dynamically adjust dosing. This substitution of mechanical user-adjustment systems with automated sensing and control mechanisms enables both operational simplicity and manufacturing precision.
3Device complexity
If no detection means are provided to measure ground coffee quantity, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of ground coffee quantity is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor-based detection system that measures the actual quantity of ground coffee produced. This detection means provides real-time feedback to the control system, enabling automatic adjustment of dosing parameters to maintain consistent ground coffee quantity despite variations in bean properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The coffee machine equips itself with detection capabilities to autonomously monitor and control its own performance. The sensor system enables the machine to self-diagnose quantity deviations and self-correct through automatic dosing adjustment, eliminating the need for external monitoring or manual measurement.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The machine has a bean container (10) grinding beans from a milling unit (14). A brewing unit (18) is arranged downstream of the milling unit, and dosing units (12) register the beams from the container to the milling unit. The milling unit has a detecting unit (16) for detecting amount parameter e.g. flour volume, of the milled beans. The dosing units are controlled to register bean registering amount in the milling unit. A control unit (20) compares the amount with a default signal and generates a dosing control signal for another bean registering amount based on the comparison. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a coffee machine.