Coffee machine provided with a coffee mill and process to control the coffee mill of the coffee machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines struggle to accurately control the dose of ground coffee based on user selection due to variability in coffee type, roast, moisture content, and grinding system wear, leading to inconsistent flavor profiles.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a control unit, sensors for motor speed and grinder distance, and an algorithm to calculate the precise number of turns for the grinder motor, ensuring the correct dose of ground coffee is produced, along with manual adjustment options for user customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the grinding time is defined manually or based on simple user selection, then the operation is simple, but the dose of ground coffee becomes imprecise and flavor consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback from sensors detecting motor speed and grinder distance, and adjusts the grinding time accordingly. The system continuously monitors actual grinding conditions and modifies the operation to maintain precise coffee dose delivery despite variations in coffee properties or grinder wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of grinding parameters with an automated electronic control system. The control unit calculates optimal grinding time based on sensor data and automatically adjusts the motor operation, eliminating the need for manual intervention while improving precision.
2Measurement precision
If the grinder distance is manually adjusted for different coffee types, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision and consistency deteriorate due to wear and variability
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor continuously detects the actual distance between grinders and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit compares the detected distance with the target distance and automatically adjusts the grinder position to maintain precise control, compensating for wear and ensuring consistent particle size across different coffee types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of grinder distance based on sensor feedback without requiring manual intervention. The control unit automatically compensates for grinder wear and maintains optimal grinding parameters for different coffee types, enabling the system to service itself.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed grinding time is used for all coffee selections, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of coffee dose deteriorates due to coffee variability
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically changes the grinding time parameter based on detected motor speed and grinder distance. Instead of using a fixed grinding time, the system calculates and adjusts the optimal grinding duration for each brewing operation, ensuring consistent coffee dose delivery despite variations in coffee properties, grinder wear, or motor performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit, a pump for supplying infusion water, a boiler for heating the infusion water, an infusion unit, a coffee mill, and a user interface including a selector for a beverage and/or a ground coffee dose. The coffee mill has a hopper for coffee beans, a rotating and a non-rotating grinder, a motor for directly or indirectly driving the rotating grinder, all with capability to adjust the distance between the grinders. A first sensor detects a number of turns and/or speed of the motor and/or of the rotating grinder. A second sensor detects a distance between the grinders. The control unit stores an algorithm for calculating a correct dose of ground coffee, configured to receive the value of ground coffee selected and the distance between the grinders to automatically generate the number of motor turns necessary to obtain the correct dose of ground coffee.