Dosing tool

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing tools for espresso portafilters lack the ability to accurately and repeatedly adjust the fill height of ground coffee, which is crucial for optimal espresso preparation.

Innovation Solution

A manual dosing tool with interchangeable and adjustable blades, featuring an indexing feature with tactile feedback and a fill height indicator, allowing for precise adjustment of the blade penetration depth to match different portafilter diameters and depths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed blade dosing tool is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accurately adjust to different portafilter sizes and depths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different portafilter sizesVSAvoidblade adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is made adjustable relative to the handle, allowing the cutting edge position to be dynamically changed. The blade can be repositioned along the handle axis and locked at different positions, enabling adaptation to various portafilter depths and sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dosing tool is divided into separable components: a handle and an adjustable blade assembly. The blade can be independently positioned and secured at different locations on the handle, allowing flexible configuration without redesigning the entire tool for different portafilter sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If a non-adjustable blade is used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but it cannot achieve accurate fill height control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefill height measurement accuracyVSAvoidadjustable blade mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A measurement scale is provided on the handle with corresponding markings that indicate the blade cutting edge position relative to the portafilter fill height. This visual feedback system allows the user to accurately set and verify the blade position, achieving precise fill height control through a simple indexing mechanism rather than complex adjustment systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the blade depth is not adjustable, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying portafilter depths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different portafilter depthsVSAvoidblade position adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade position along the handle axis is made dynamically adjustable, allowing the cutting depth to be changed to match different portafilter depths. The blade can be secured at multiple discrete positions along the handle, providing versatility for various portafilter dimensions without requiring a completely different tool for each size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3128881B1Dosing tool
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 BREVILLE HLDG PTY LTD
  • EP3128881B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3128881B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3128881B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A coffee dose adjustment tool has interchangeable or adjustable blades for adjustment of the coffee fill height within a portafilter.dosing tool