Brewing device with control of the amount of grounds by a flow meter and coffee maker comprising such a device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brewing devices for espresso makers face challenges in precisely controlling the amount of coffee grounds due to variations caused by grinding wheel wear and coffee bean hardness, leading to unreliable and costly solutions for measuring the grounds' thickness.

Innovation Solution

A brewing device with a hydraulic drive mechanism and a flow meter to measure the volume of hydraulic fluid injected, allowing the control circuit to determine the height of the compacted grounds, enabling precise control of the grounds' amount and integrating a calibration system using a switch and ruler for flow meter calibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensors and movable elements are added to measure grounds thickness, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrounds thickness measurementVSAvoidsensor and movable element complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems (optical sensors, Hall effect sensors, potentiometers with movable parts) with a hydraulic measurement system. The volume of hydraulic fluid injected into the cylinder is measured, and from this volume measurement, the control circuit deduces the height of the compacted grounds cake, thereby measuring grounds thickness without mechanical sensors in the brewing chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces hydraulic fluid as an intermediary medium to transfer information about grounds height. Instead of directly measuring grounds thickness with sensors, the system measures the volume of hydraulic fluid required to drive the pressing ram, which indirectly reveals the grounds cake height through the relationship between fluid volume and ram displacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If optical sensors are used to measure grounds thickness, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sensitivity to fouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrounds thickness measurementVSAvoidsensor reliability in humid environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates optical sensors from the brewing chamber environment by replacing them with a hydraulic measurement system. The flow meter measures hydraulic fluid volume externally, away from the humid and fouling-prone brewing chamber, thus maintaining measurement capability while improving reliability in the harsh espresso maker environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If expensive and bulky components like potentiometers are added, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecake height measurementVSAvoiddevice assembly and fitting

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces bulky potentiometers with a flow meter that measures hydraulic fluid volume. This simplifies the device architecture, making it more compact and easier to integrate into the espresso maker without requiring expensive and difficult-to-fit components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution provides a reliable, economical, and precise method for controlling the coffee grounds' volume, simplifying the design and reducing the risk of breakdowns, while maintaining reliability in a humid environment.

Implementation Method 1

a flow meter to measure the volume of hydraulic fluid injected

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow meter measurement:

Implementation Method 2

a hydraulic drive mechanism with a hydraulic cylinder and a pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic drive: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS9560933B2Brewing device with control of the amount of grounds by a flow meter and coffee maker comprising such a device

Publication Date: 2017.02.07 SEB SA

AI summary

Provided is a brewing device for an espresso maker having a brewing chamber for receiving grounds, a pressing ram mounted movably on a path of travel extending between a top position and a bottom compaction position in which it penetrates into said brewing chamber to form a cake of compacted grounds, a hydraulic drive mechanism for the pressing ram having a hydraulic pump and means for measuring the volume of hydraulic fluid injected into the drive mechanism. The brewing device has a control circuit that determines the height of the cake of compacted grounds from signals delivered by the volume measurement means during the travel of the pressing ram.