Coffee Roasting Control via Particulate Matter Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current home coffee roasters lack the ability to accurately adapt roasting characteristics to the initial roasting degree of coffee beans, often resulting in bitter taste due to inadequate temperature and duration settings, and require roasting experience to monitor the process effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize particulate matter sensing to determine the actual roasting degree by measuring emissions over time, allowing for real-time adjustment of roasting parameters such as temperature and duration, enabling precise control of the roasting process without user expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard pre-set roasting characteristics are used, then the roasting process is simple to operate, but the roasting accuracy cannot be adapted to different initial roasting degrees of coffee beans
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors particulate matter emission patterns and adjusts roasting parameters without user intervention. The controlling means independently determines the actual roasting degree based on measured particulate matter patterns and automatically sets appropriate roasting characteristics, eliminating the need for user expertise while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures particulate matter emission during roasting and uses this feedback to determine the actual roasting degree. The controlling means adjusts roasting parameters based on real-time measurement data, creating a closed-loop control system that achieves both simplicity and accuracy.
2Device complexity
If color sensing is used to determine roasting degree, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement accuracy is insufficient due to intra-bean and inter-bean color differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces optical color sensing with particulate matter sensing. Instead of using light reflection to determine roasting degree, the system measures the mass concentration of particulate matter emitted during roasting, which provides more accurate and consistent measurements不受intra-bean and inter-bean color variations.
3Device complexity
If sound sensing is used to detect cracking stages, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement accuracy is poor due to signal-to-noise ratio issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces acoustic sound sensing with particulate matter sensing. Instead of detecting cracking sounds that are obscured by noise, the system measures particulate matter emission patterns, which provide clear and accurate signals for determining roasting stages without signal-to-noise ratio problems.
4Manufacturing precision
If professional roasters manually monitor the roasting process, then the roasting quality can be high, but the operation requires extensive experience and knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic monitoring and control of the roasting process using particulate matter sensing. The controlling means independently analyzes emission patterns and adjusts parameters, eliminating the need for human operators to have professional roasting experience while maintaining high roasting quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces human sensory monitoring (visual inspection and auditory detection) with automated particulate matter sensing. This substitution captures objective emission data that correlates with roasting stages, providing consistent quality without requiring human expertise.
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 solution allows for accurate adaptation of the roasting process to the type and initial roasting degree of coffee beans, ensuring optimal flavor and eliminating the need for complex visual inspections, thereby producing coffee according to personal taste preferences.
Implementation Method 1
a particulate matter sensor (10) which measures an actual value of particulate matter emission
Data Source
AI summary
A device for use in a process for roasting coffee beans comprises measuring means (10) for performing measurements of an actual value of particulate matter emission from the coffee beans during a process of roasting the coffee beans, and controlling means (20) coupled to the measuring means (10) for receiving the outcome of the measurements from the measuring means (10), wherein the controlling means (20) are adapted to find a pattern of the particulate matter emission over time on the basis of the outcome of the measurements, to determine an actual roasting degree of the coffee beans on the basis of the pattern, and to determine and set at least one characteristic of the roasting process on the basis of the roasting degree.