Espresso Filter-Holder Identification for Accurate Coffee Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing espresso coffee machine filter-holder refilling systems are prone to errors in terms of coffee quality, quantity, and grind size, leading to incorrect beverage preparation and material losses, especially in high-volume settings like service stations.
Innovation Solution
An automated system with a coffee bean metering and grinding device equipped with a hopper, adjustable grinder, communication interface, sensors, and electronic circuit board for precise recognition and dispensing of filter-holders based on coded identification, ensuring accurate grinding and dispensing of coffee according to user selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filter-holders are filled manually at the time of beverage preparation, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but errors in coffee type, quantity, and grind size occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The filter-holder performs self-identification through coded recognition, automatically communicating its requirements to the grinding device without manual intervention. The system self-regulates the grinding parameters and coffee quantity based on the filter-holder's coded identity, eliminating manual filling errors while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The recognition device detects the code on the filter-holder and provides feedback to the grinding device, which automatically adjusts grinding settings and coffee quantity. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the correct coffee parameters are applied based on the specific filter-holder type, dramatically improving preparation accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different beverages are prepared with varying coffee quantities and grind sizes, then beverage variety is enhanced, but the risk of preparation errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each filter-holder is assigned specific local qualities through its code, representing particular coffee type, quantity, and grind size requirements. The recognition device reads these localized codes and the grinding device applies the corresponding specific parameters, ensuring each beverage type receives its precise configuration without manual error.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically changes grinding parameters (grind size, quantity) based on the detected filter-holder code. When a different beverage type is selected, the recognition device identifies the corresponding code and the grinding device adjusts its parameters accordingly, maintaining consistency across various beverage types without manual intervention.
3Reliability
If coffee is ground only to order from bean form, then coffee flavor is preserved, but the complexity of the metering and grinding device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Coffee beans are pre-stored in the hopper in whole form, preserving flavor until the moment of use. The grinding action is triggered only when a filter-holder is positioned and its code is recognized, ensuring coffee is ground to order. This preliminary storage of whole beans maintains quality while the on-demand grinding mechanism adds minimal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual judgment and manual grinding control with an automated recognition and control system. The coded identification and electronic control substitute for human decision-making about coffee parameters, maintaining flavor quality through precise automated timing while managing complexity through integration.
4Measurement precision
If coded recognition systems are implemented on filter-holders, then filling accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter-holder code may utilize color coding or visual markers that can be detected by the recognition device. This approach provides precise identification capability through simple, detectable visual properties, improving measurement precision while keeping the recognition system relatively simple through optical detection methods.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for refilling the filter-holders of a machine for the preparation of espresso coffee with selected doses of ground coffee to order, comprising at least one machine (10, 10A) for the preparation of espresso coffee provided with at least one dispensing unit (14, 15, 16, 17) for the prepared beverage, the dispensing unit comprising a detachable filter-holder (22, 23, 24, 25) and a plurality of keys for selecting the beverage to be dispensed by the relative dispensing unit, and at least one coffee bean grinder and metering device (1) provided with a hopper for supplying the beans with adjustable grinding adapted to provide a desired grain size for the ground coffee, an outlet (3) for supplying the ground coffee and means (8) for maintaining the filter-holder (22, 23, 24, 25) of the coffee machine with respect to the supply outlet (3) when it is being refilled with the dose of ground coffee. The machine comprises an identification unit (11) generating information on the type of dose with which the filter-holder (22, 23, 24, 25) of a relative dispensing unit (14, 15, 16, 17) is to be refilled and the coffee bean metering and grinding device (1, 32, 33, 34, 35) comprises a detection unit (9) for the information generated by the identification unit (11), the detection unit (9) causing the corresponding dose to be supplied to the filter-holder when the latter is positioned and held by the means (8) of the metering and grinding device (1, 32, 33, 34, 35).