Coffee Roaster Movable Chaffs Collector for Safe Bean Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee roasting apparatuses are inconvenient for consumers as they require manual handling of chaffs, which can be hot and pose a burn risk, and do not allow immediate access to roasted coffee beans, disrupting the roasting process.

Innovation Solution

A coffee roasting apparatus with a movably arranged chaffs collector that can be easily rotated or slid between closed and open positions, allowing for safe and efficient separation of chaffs from roasted coffee beans, featuring a detachable receptacle with a handle for safe handling and a locking mechanism to maintain the roasting environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the chaffs collector is fixed in position to collect chaffs during roasting, then chaffs collection efficiency is improved, but user access to roasted coffee beans is hindered and burn risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechaffs collection efficiencyVSAvoiduser access to roasted coffee beans
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The chaffs collector is designed with movable arrangement relative to the chamber opening, transitioning from a static fixed position to a dynamic structure that can move between covering and non-covering positions. This allows the collector to adapt its position based on operational requirements, enabling both efficient chaffs collection during roasting and easy user access when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the chaffs collector remains in closed position during roasting, then chaffs are effectively collected, but user safety is compromised due to proximity to heated components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechaffs collection efficiencyVSAvoidburn risk for user
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is segmented into distinct functional zones: the chaffs collection function is separated from the user access zone. The chaffs collector can be positioned to cover the chamber opening for collection, or moved away to provide safe user access, creating spatial separation between the hot chaffs collection area and the user interaction area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-generated harmful factors

If manual handling of chaffs is required, then chaffs removal is achieved, but user convenience is reduced and handling time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechaffs removal capabilityVSAvoidtime for handling chaffs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The chaffs collector is extracted as a separate, movable component that can be independently positioned and removed. This allows the collector to be taken out from the chamber opening area after collecting chaffs, enabling easy removal and disposal of chaffs without requiring users to manually handle hot chaffs near the heating elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4076014B1Apparatus for roasting coffee beans and for collecting coffee chaffs
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA
  • EP4076014B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4076014B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP4076014B1 patent drawingFigure 8A

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for more convenient roasting of coffee. The apparatus (1) in particular facilitates an improved means for collecting the chaffs of the so roasted coffee beans to make the removal of the roasted coffee beans from the apparatus (1) more convenient, in particular when the apparatus (1) is used as a home appliance apparatus. The apparatus (1) is for roasting coffee beans and for collecting chaffs of the so roasted coffee beans. The apparatus (1) comprises: a chamber (10) in which coffee beans can be received for roasting, the chamber (10) comprising an opening (12) for accessing the chamber (10) in order to at least remove coffee beans from the chamber (10), and a chaffs collector (50) for collecting chaffs of the coffee beans, which are roasted by the chamber (10). The chaffs collector (50) is moveably arranged with respect to a specific movement axis in order to be moved between a closed position, in which the chaffs collector (50) covers the opening (12) of the chamber (10) for roasting the coffee beans, and an open position, in which the chaffs collector (50) does not cover the opening (12) of the chamber (10) so that the chamber (10) is accessible via the opening (12) for removing coffee beans from the chamber (10).