Multiple-compartment coffee mill hopper for a coffee mill

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing coffee mill hopper design allows for unlimited flexibility in selecting the rotational position of the control knob, leading to potential congestion or weak coffee, lacks feedback for suitable selection, and is prone to accidental changes due to vibrations from the grinder.

Innovation Solution

A coffee mill hopper assembly with a compartment selector featuring a shaft and closure member, including toothed members that are spring-biased to force teeth into discrete meshing positions, providing tactile feedback and locking the selected position, preventing unsuitable selections and accidental changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If unlimited rotational position selection is provided for the control knob, then flexibility in controlling outflow opening size is improved, but the risk of selecting unsuitable positions causing congestion or weak coffee increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in controlling outflow openingVSAvoidselection of suitable rotational position

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous rotational range of the control knob is segmented into discrete selectable positions using toothed members with specific numbers of teeth (e.g., 12 teeth on the first toothed member and 6 teeth on the second toothed member). This segmentation provides predefined outflow opening sizes that have been optimized to prevent congestion and ensure adequate coffee strength, while still offering multiple adjustment options for user flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the control knob allows free rotation to any position, then ease of adjustment is improved, but lack of feedback on suitable selection occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment of control knobVSAvoidfeedback on suitable rotational position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The toothed members engage to provide tactile feedback through distinct clicking sensations at each predefined position, and visual feedback through alignment marks or indicators that show when a suitable position is selected. This feedback mechanism guides the user to appropriate outflow opening sizes without requiring knowledge of the exact rotational angle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the rotational position of the closure member is not fixed, then ease of adjustment is improved, but accidental changes due to vibration occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of closure memberVSAvoidrotational position of closure member

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The toothed members are designed to automatically engage and lock the closure member at predefined positions during the adjustment process. This preliminary locking action prevents subsequent accidental changes due to vibration or movement, while still allowing intentional re-adjustment by the user when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If toothed members are spring-biased to force teeth together, then locking capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking of rotational positionVSAvoidtoothed member mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-biased toothed member mechanism combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the springs provide both the locking force to maintain positional stability and the release mechanism when sufficient force is applied. This merging of functions achieves reliable positioning without requiring separate locking and release mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution ensures that only suitable rotational positions are selected, providing tactile feedback and locking the position to prevent accidental changes, thus eliminating congestion and ensuring consistent coffee strength and blend ratios.

Implementation Method 1

At least one of the toothed members may be movably arranged and be spring-biased to force the teeth of the toothed members towards each other in a meshing relationship

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring bias: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS9848736B2Multiple-compartment coffee mill hopper for a coffee mill

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 VERSUNI HLDG BV

AI summary

Coffee mill hopper assembly (1), comprising a hopper (10) with multiple compartments (18a, 18b) for storing coffee beans and at least one outlet (22) through which coffee beans may be released from the respective compartments, and a compartment selector (30) comprising a rotatable control knob for adjusting the position of a closure member (36) that cooperates with the at least one outlet (22) to provide for at least one outflow aperture that, depending on the rotational position of the closure member, selectively enables a release of coffee beans. The compartment selector (30) further comprises two toothed members that are rotationally locked to the control knob (34) and the hopper (10), respectively, wherein at least one of said toothed members (50a, 50b) is movably arranged and spring-biased to force the teeth (54a, 54b) of the toothed members towards each other in a meshing relationship.