Grinding unit and coffee machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machines with multiple storage containers for different coffee beans often leave residual beans in the channel between containers and the grinding module, leading to a mix of beans when switching between containers, resulting in an imprecise selection and grinding of coffee beans.

Innovation Solution

A grinding unit with movable shutters for each storage container, actuated by a control unit to open and close independently, ensuring only selected beans are fed to the grinding module, and the grinding module is driven for a predetermined time or number of rotations based on the opening time, ensuring complete consumption and precise selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If beans remain in the channel between storage containers and grinding module for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to imprecise bean selection when switching containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidprecision of bean selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the bean flow path into separate segments for each storage container, with individual shutters controlling access from each container to the grinding module. This segmentation ensures that beans from different containers are kept separate throughout the process, eliminating mixing while maintaining operational ease through automated shutter control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit initiates grinding operation before the shutter fully closes and continues for a predetermined time after closure. This preliminary and extended action ensures that all beans released during the transition period are completely ground, preventing residual beans from mixing with subsequent batches from different containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If grinding module runs continuously for high productivity, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to mixing of different bean types

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidprecision of bean selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter operates periodically to control bean flow from different storage containers to the grinding module. By opening and closing at precisely timed intervals, the system allows complete emptying of one container's beans before switching to the next, maintaining bean type purity while keeping the grinding module continuously operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors shutter position and timing, and adjusts grinding duration accordingly. By receiving feedback on when the shutter closes, the system calculates the appropriate extended grinding time to ensure complete processing of all released beans, preventing mixing while maintaining continuous productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If shutter closes quickly for precise bean selection, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to incomplete grinding of residual beans

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of bean selectionVSAvoidtime for complete grinding

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit starts the grinding operation before the shutter completes its closing action. This preliminary initiation of grinding ensures that beans already in the channel or about to be released are immediately processed, eliminating idle time while maintaining precise bean selection through controlled shutter timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The grinding duration is dynamically adjusted based on shutter closing timing. The system calculates an extended grinding period proportional to the time taken for shutter closure, ensuring that all beans released during the transition are completely ground. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both precision and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3361917B1Grinding unit and coffee machine

Publication Date: 2019.12.18 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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Figure 2b

AI summary

A grinding unit (12) for selectively grinding beans (20), in particular coffee beans, is disclosed. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of storage containers (16, 18) for storing the beans (20) and a grinding module (14) associated to the storage containers for grinding the beans. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of shutters (28, 30), wherein each of the shutters is associated to one of the storage containers for feeding the beans from a selected storage container to the grinding module, wherein the shutters are movable with respect to each other to selectively feed the beans from the selected container to the grinding module. An actuation unit (46) is associated to the shutters for actuating the shutters and for opening and closing the storage containers independently. The grinding unit comprises a control unit (32) for controlling the actuation unit in order to open and close the selected storage container and for controlling the grinding module, wherein the control unit is adapted to start driving the grinding module after opening the selected container and to drive the grinding module for a predetermined time period or for a predetermined number of rotations after closing the selected storage container. The control unit is configured to determine said predetermined time period or said predetermined number of rotations, respectively, based on an opening time during which the selected storage container has been open.