Apparatus for roasting coffee beans

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing coffee roasting apparatuses are noisy, inefficient, and fail to provide a fresh cup of coffee due to the vertical circulation of beans, which leads to higher energy consumption and potential mechanical failures, while also not rewarding farmers fairly in the coffee supply chain.

Innovation Solution

A coffee roasting apparatus that circulates beans horizontally using heated air, reducing energy consumption and noise, and includes a controller to vary air flow rates and temperatures based on bean type, eliminating the need for mechanical valves and allowing for customizable roasting profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If beans are vertically circulated in the roasting chamber, then roasting efficiency is improved, but noise level increases and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroasting efficiencyVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional vertical circulation method by implementing horizontal circulation of coffee beans through the roasting chamber. The beans are moved horizontally along the periphery using an air stream generated by a fan, which reduces the fan speed requirement and consequently lowers noise levels while maintaining roasting efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from vertical circulation (one-dimensional upward motion) to horizontal circulation (one-dimensional lateral motion along the chamber periphery). This dimensional change allows the beans to be roasted effectively while reducing the energy and noise associated with high-speed vertical air currents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If mechanical valves are used to divert roasted beans, then bean discharge control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebean discharge controlVSAvoidmechanical valve structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical valve system with a pneumatic control mechanism. By adjusting the fan speed and air stream characteristics, roasted beans are naturally diverted through airflow pressure differences, eliminating the need for complex mechanical moving parts while maintaining effective bean discharge control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pneumatic principles by employing an air stream generated through the chamber to control bean movement and discharge. The air flow itself acts as the control mechanism, using pressure and velocity variations to direct beans without mechanical valves, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If uniform roasting process is applied to all beans, then operation simplicity is improved, but roasting quality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidroasting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic roasting process where the fan speed is varied during the roasting cycle. The system automatically adjusts air flow rates at different stages: initially higher speeds for rapid heating, then moderated speeds for even roasting, and finally variable speeds for cooling and bean discharge. This dynamic adjustment maintains operational simplicity while achieving superior and consistent roasting quality across different bean types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The apparatus operates more quietly, efficiently, and allows for customizable roasting processes, ensuring a fresher cup of coffee while potentially increasing the financial reward for farmers by enabling direct sourcing and reducing waste.

Implementation Method 1

means for driving heated air into the chamber for roasting coffee beans received therein; wherein the air driving means and chamber are configured and arranged so that coffee beans located in the chamber circulate generally horizontally about the periphery of the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

means for heating air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9545169B2Apparatus for roasting coffee beans

Publication Date: 2017.01.17 IKAWA

AI summary

One embodiment of the invention relates to apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans, the apparatus comprising: a chamber (12) in which a supply of coffee beans can be received for roasting; means (15) for heating air; and means (20) for driving heated air into the chamber (12) for roasting coffee beans received therein; wherein the air driving means (20) and chamber (12) are configured and arranged so that coffee beans located in the chamber (12) circulate generally horizontally about the periphery of the chamber (12) when the air driving means (20) drives heated air into the chamber (12).