Double Bean Container with Single-Actuator Closure and Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inexperienced users often remove multiple bean hoppers from coffee grinders or machines without closing the bean outlets, leading to coffee beans falling out and causing time-consuming cleaning, which is difficult to address in larger multiple bean containers due to the complexity of implementing closure units.

Innovation Solution

A double bean container with a single actuating element that simultaneously controls the closing and locking of all bean outlets, allowing for easy operation and prevention of beans from falling out, featuring a mechanical coupling that enables a common mechanism for opening and closing all outlets with a single actuation movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate closure units are provided for each bean outlet in multiple bean containers, then all bean outlets can be closed to prevent beans from falling out, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of beans falling outVSAvoidcomplexity of closure units

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple closure units into a single integrated closure unit that simultaneously controls all bean outlets. This single closure unit includes multiple closure elements that can be actuated together through one common actuating element, thereby preventing beans from falling out while maintaining simplicity and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single actuating element serves multiple functions: it actuates all closure elements simultaneously to close all bean outlets, and it also actuates the locking mechanism to lock or unlock the bean container. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple separate closure units are provided for each bean outlet, then all outlets can be closed, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring multiple separate actions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of beans falling outVSAvoidease of closing outlets

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a single actuating mechanism controls all closure elements and locking mechanism, then ease of operation improves, but the mechanical coupling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesingle actuation for all functionsVSAvoidmechanical coupling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The single actuating element is divided into multiple actuating portions, each coupled to different functions (closure elements and locking mechanism). This segmentation allows independent control of each function while maintaining a unified actuation interface, reducing mechanical complexity compared to a fully integrated single mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If closure units are mechanically coupled to rotary movement of the bean container, then closure can be achieved, but the solution becomes difficult to implement in larger multiple bean containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical coupling simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to multiple bean containers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3148384B1Coffee bean container

Publication Date: 2020.02.26 EUGSTER FRISMAG AG

Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a coffee bean container, in particular a double bean container, for releasably fixing on a coffee grinder or a coffee machine with an integrated coffee grinder, comprising a first bean compartment (3) which has a first bean outlet (6) and at least one second bean compartment (4) which has a second bean outlet (6), closure means (12) which are paired with the bean outlets (5, 6) for closing the bean outlets (5, 6), locking means (13) for locking the bean container on the coffee grinder or on the coffee machine, and an actuating element (8) which can be actuated by a user and thereby moved relative to the bean compartments (3, 4). The actuating element (8) is designed and arranged so as to open all the bean outlets (5, 6) as well as to lock the locking means (13), in particular with a single actuating movement, and/or to close all the bean outlets (5, 6) as well as to unlock the locking means (12), in particular with a single actuating movement.