Grinding device and method for adjustment thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee grinding devices lack the ability to set an absolute grind size, making it difficult to control coffee quality and flavor, especially in systems that require remote monitoring and maintenance, and the adjustment process is laborious and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A grinding device with a driven and adjustable lower grinding body and a stationary upper grinding body that can be manually detached, featuring stop positions to limit the adjustment range and allow for absolute setting of grind size, along with a control unit and actuator for precise adjustment and memory to maintain settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the upper grinding body is made stationary and manually detachable, then ease of maintenance and disassembly is improved, but the ability to maintain precise absolute grind size settings is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a reference position (stop) for the upper grinding body before removal. This reference position pre-establishes the absolute grind size setting, allowing the setting to be preserved and restored after maintenance, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of maintenance and precision setting retention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a reference position (stop) that replicates the desired grind size setting. This reference serves as a template that can be restored after the upper grinding body is removed and reinstalled, maintaining the precise setting without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
2Ease of repair
If the grinding device allows removal of grinding bodies for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but loss of time for re-adjustment is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The reference position (stop) is established before maintenance occurs, pre-preparing the setting information needed for quick restoration. This eliminates the time-consuming re-adjustment process after maintenance, as the setting is already predetermined and can be simply restored by reinstalling the upper grinding body
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically maintaining the grind size setting through the reference position mechanism. The reference position encodes the setting information, allowing the device to restore its own configuration without requiring external adjustment or calibration after maintenance
3Device complexity
If relative adjustment mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different absolute grind sizes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The reference position (stop) acts as an intermediary between the simple relative adjustment mechanism and the requirement for absolute grind size control. It translates the relative adjustment into an absolute reference frame, enabling both simple mechanics and precise control without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of reference by introducing a fixed reference position (stop) that defines absolute grind sizes. This allows the simple relative adjustment mechanism to achieve absolute control by changing from purely relative positioning to positioning relative to a fixed reference, enhancing adaptability without complicating the mechanism
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A grinding device comprises a grinding housing with mutually co-acting grinding bodies. A lower of the two grinding bodies is both driven and axially adjustable for the purpose of setting a grind size. An upper grinding body is removable. A grind size of the grinding device can be adjusted in absolute manner between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, corresponding to a fixed setting range between a minimal clearance between the two grinding surfaces and a maximum clearance between the two grinding surfaces. An extreme position of the adjustable grinding body is imposed by a stop which is encountered by the adjusting means in the relevant extreme position. A coffee machine uses the absolute grind size and/or a fine-tuning for an optimal contact time between coffee and through-flowing water.