Dosing apparatus, coffee bean package and coffee making apparatus for dosing coffee beans

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee makers suffer from flavor and aroma loss due to prolonged exposure of coffee beans to ambient air, and residual coffee grounds from previous grinding sessions can contaminate new beans, affecting the taste of freshly brewed coffee.

Innovation Solution

A system that connects a coffee bean package directly to a grinder, ensuring beans are ground and brewed without exposure to air, using a dosing device to deliver precise doses and prevent mixing with residual grounds, while allowing for easy switching between different coffee bean types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If coffee beans are stored in a coffee bean holder for extended periods, then convenience of operation is improved, but flavor and aroma are lost due to prolonged exposure to ambient air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of operationVSAvoidflavor and aroma loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coffee bean package is divided into multiple sealed compartments, each containing a predetermined dosage of coffee beans. This segmentation allows individual portions to be sealed separately, preventing air exposure and preserving flavor and aroma while maintaining convenience of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses sealed packaging that creates an inert or protected atmosphere around the coffee beans, preventing contact with ambient air. This preserves the flavor and aroma of the coffee beans while allowing them to be stored and used conveniently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Productivity

If a large amount of coffee beans is ground at once, then productivity is improved, but residual grounds from previous sessions contaminate new beans

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidcontamination from residual grounds
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coffee beans into individual predetermined dosages in separate sealed compartments. This ensures that only the required amount is ground at once, preventing contamination from residual grounds while maintaining efficient operation through pre-portioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows for complete emptying of the coffee bean package, ensuring that residual grounds are fully removed. The reclosable closure enables the package to be completely emptied and sealed, preventing any contamination from leftover grounds in subsequent uses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of operation

If the coffee bean package is opened for repeated access, then ease of operation is improved, but coffee beans come into contact with ambient air causing flavor loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidflavor loss from air contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coffee bean package is divided into multiple sealed compartments, each containing a predetermined dosage. This allows the package to be opened only when needed, with each compartment remaining sealed until use, thus preserving flavor while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each compartment is sealed to create a protected environment that prevents ambient air from contacting the coffee beans. The reclosable closure maintains this protected environment between uses, preserving flavor and aroma.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple coffee bean types are stored together, then adaptability is improved, but flavors and aromas mix and diminish

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidflavor and aroma mixing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses separate sealed compartments for different coffee bean types, allowing multiple varieties to be stored in the same holder without flavor mixing. Each compartment remains sealed until use, preserving the distinct characteristics of each coffee type while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2653082B1Dosing apparatus, coffee bean package and coffee making apparatus for dosing coffee beans
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 KONINK DOUWE EGBERTS BV
  • EP2653082B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2653082B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2653082B1 patent drawingFigure 2D~2F

AI summary

A system(l) for dosing coffee beans, comprising a coffee bean package (3) provided with at least one wall (3A, 3B) which at least partly encloses an inner space for multiple dosages of coffee beans, and a coffee bean outlet (11) for delivering coffee beans, and an apparatus (2) provided with a coffee bean grinder (6), a coffee bean inlet (5) for supplying coffee beans from the coffee bean package (1) to the grinder (6), a connecting device (4) for connecting the coffee bean package(l) to the apparatus (2), so that the coffee bean outlet(11) can be connected to the coffee bean inlet (5), and a dosing device (13) provided with a dosing space (14) which is arranged for feeding-through one predetermined dose of coffee beans from the coffee bean outlet (11) to the coffee bean inlet (5).