Horizontal Grinder-Infusion Layout for Compact Bean Coffee Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee machines that use coffee beans are larger and less reliable compared to those using capsules or pods, making them inconvenient for users with limited space and requiring more maintenance.

Innovation Solution

An automatic coffee machine with an integrated grinder aligned horizontally with the infusion assembly, a water tank, and a heat exchanger, featuring a scraper mechanism for automatic coffee bean grinding and spent coffee disposal, allowing for compact design and easy operation similar to capsule or pod machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an automatic coffee machine uses coffee beans with an integrated grinder, then coffee preparation functionality is improved, but the machine size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoffee preparation functionalityVSAvoidmachine size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The grinder is arranged horizontally in line with the infusion assembly rather than vertically above it, changing the spatial dimension of the coffee flow path. This horizontal arrangement allows the ground coffee to pass horizontally from the grinder to the scraper chamber, enabling a more compact overall machine footprint while maintaining all necessary functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The grinder, infusion assembly, and spent coffee disposal system are merged into a single integrated horizontal flow path. The grinder outlet directly connects to the scraper chamber which is part of the infusion assembly, eliminating the need for separate vertical stacking of components and reducing overall machine size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If an automatic coffee machine uses coffee beans with grinding capability, then coffee quality is improved, but maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoffee qualityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper mechanism automatically removes spent coffee grounds from the infusion chamber after each brewing cycle, eliminating the need for manual cleaning of the infusion assembly. The scraper is driven by a simple motor that activates automatically, making the maintenance process self-service oriented and significantly reducing user intervention requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically discards spent coffee grounds into a removable collection container after each use. The scraper pushes the exhausted coffee slug into the disposal chamber, and the used grounds are collected in a container that can be easily removed and emptied by the user, simplifying maintenance to just removing and emptying the collection container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of operation

If an automatic coffee machine uses capsules or pods, then ease of operation is improved, but coffee preparation versatility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidcoffee preparation versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Coffee beans are pre-loaded into the grinder hopper in advance, and the grinder automatically grinds the required amount before each brewing cycle. This preliminary preparation of coffee beans eliminates the need for users to manually prepare coffee, achieving ease of operation similar to capsule machines while maintaining the versatility of using whole coffee beans.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual process of measuring and preparing ground coffee is replaced by an automated electric grinder that precisely grinds the required amount of coffee beans before each brew. This mechanical substitution automates the coffee preparation process, making it as easy to operate as capsule machines while allowing users to choose from different coffee bean types and grind settings.

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

The machine enables efficient coffee preparation in compact spaces with automatic spent coffee disposal, achieving high reliability and low maintenance, comparable to capsule or pod systems.

Implementation Method 1

a grinder (3) for grinding coffee beans

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger with associated pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

heat exchanger with associated pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS10455971B2Automatic machine for preparing coffee

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 PROCAFFE

AI summary

An automatic machine for preparing coffee, comprising an infusion assembly, a water tank, a heat exchanger with associated pump, and a grinder for grinding coffee beans, the grinder being arranged in line with the infusion assembly and horizontally with respect to a resting surface of the machine, a container adapted to contain coffee beans being connected, in an upper region, to the grinder, the grinder being connected to a chamber adapted to contain a scraper, the ground coffee being adapted to pass horizontally from the grinder to the scraper, in order to accommodate within the scraper a preset dose of ground coffee.