Grinding Device with Supporting Unit for Rotating Shaft Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grinding devices for coffee beans suffer from poor stability due to the relative movement between the inner and outer grinding units, leading to potential collisions and uneven powder thickness.

Innovation Solution

A grinding device with a supporting unit that includes a first and second supporting assembly, providing rotational stability to the rotating shaft unit through bearings and elastic members, ensuring the inner and outer grinding units operate without collision and producing uniform powder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the rotating shaft unit is allowed to rotate freely during grinding operation, then the grinding mechanism can operate, but the top end of the rotating shaft unit swings and draws a circle causing precession motion, leading to poor relative stability between components and potential collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding operationVSAvoidrelative stability between components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A supporting unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotating shaft unit and the grinding seat. This supporting unit includes a supporting assembly with a supporting hole that receives the rotating shaft unit, providing stable support and limiting excessive movement while allowing necessary rotation for grinding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The grinding mechanism is divided into detachable segments: the supporting unit can be detached from the grinding seat, and the rotating shaft unit can be removed from the supporting unit. This segmentation allows for easy cleaning and maintenance while maintaining stability during operation through proper assembly configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the inner grinding unit shakes relative to the outer grinding unit during operation, then the precession motion occurs, but the distance between inner and outer grinding units changes, resulting in uneven powder thickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding operationVSAvoidpowder thickness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting unit acts as a mediator that stabilizes the rotating shaft unit's position during grinding. By providing a fixed supporting hole that receives the rotating shaft unit, it ensures consistent spacing between the inner and outer grinding units, maintaining uniform powder thickness while allowing the grinding operation to proceed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the grinding mechanism is made stable with fixed components, then collisions are prevented, but the cleaning and maintenance of the grinding mechanism becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelative stability between componentsVSAvoidcleaning and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The grinding mechanism is designed with detachable segments: the supporting unit can be separated from the grinding seat, and the rotating shaft unit can be removed from the supporting unit. This segmentation maintains stability during operation through proper assembly while enabling easy disassembly for cleaning and maintenance of grinding surfaces and components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The supporting unit enhances the stability of the rotating shaft, preventing collisions and achieving uniform powder thickness and fineness, while allowing for easy detachment and cleaning of the grinding mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

The first supporting assembly includes a first bearing defining the first supporting hole for the rotating shaft unit to be inserted into and abutted against

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

an elastic member sleeved on the rotating shaft unit and sandwiched between the first supporting assembly and the connecting shaft part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3689204B1Grinding device
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 TSANN KUEN ZHANGZHOU ENTERPRISE CO LTD
  • EP3689204B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3689204B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3689204B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A grinding device includes a grinding mechanism (22), a driving mechanism (23) capable of driving the grinding mechanism to operate, and a grinding seat (24) located between the grinding mechanism (22) and the driving mechanism (23). The grinding mechanism (22) includes a rotating shaft unit (4) inserted in and protruded from the grinding seat (24) to be rotatably connected to the driving mechanism (23), an inner grinding unit (7) sleeved on the rotating shaft unit (4), and an outer grinding unit (6) surrounding and spaced from the inner grinding unit (7). The driving mechanism (23) is able to drive the rotating shaft unit (4) to bring the inner grinding unit (7) to rotate and grind the substance to be ground in cooperation with the outer grinding unit (6). The grinding mechanism (22) further includes a supporting unit (3) sleeved on and abutted against the rotating shaft unit (4). The supporting unit is abutted against the rotating shaft unit to provide support for the rotating shaft unit, the stability of the rotating shaft unit is better, and the problem that the rotating shaft unit drives the inner grinding unit to shake and collide with other components will not occur.