Removable Bean Hopper Assembly with Dual-Stage Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bean hopper assemblies are not easily removable from brewing systems, leading to inconvenience and inefficiency in bean refilling and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A bean hopper assembly with a tub that is partially located in a housing, featuring a knob with a first locking member and a push button assembly with a second locking member, allowing for easy detachment and attachment of the tub to the housing through a mechanism involving flanges, cantilevers, and moveable brackets, facilitated by spring elements and a linkage system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the bean hopper assembly is made permanently fixed to the brewing system, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of operation for removal and attachment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of removal and attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states through rotational movement of the knob and linear movement of the push button assembly, allowing the tub to be dynamically secured or removed from the housing as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is divided into two independent systems: a first locking member with a knob for rotational locking, and a second locking member with a push button assembly for linear locking, allowing staged engagement and disengagement of the tub

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a simple locking mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of secure attachment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism complexityVSAvoidsecure attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Both locking members work together in conjunction with the cantilever and flange structure to provide dual-stage securing of the tub to the housing, ensuring reliable attachment through multiple independent locking actions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4374750B1Removable bean hopper assembly

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 WHIRLPOOL CORP

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AI summary

The invention relates to a brewing assembly (10) with a bean hopper assembly (12) that comprises a housing (14) and a tub (16) at least partially located in the housing (14). The tub (16) defines a pocket (18) configured to hold beans, and an opening (20) extends through the tub (16) to route beans into a provided grinder (22). A knob (23) extends through the opening (20) and includes a first locking member (24) that includes a locked position where the tub (16) is fixed to the housing (14), and an unlocked position where the tub (16) is selectively fixed to the housing (14). A push button assembly (26) includes a second locking member (28) that is selectively moveable to an actuated position when the first locking member (24) is in the unlocked position to release the tub (16), and where the tub (16) is fixed to the housing (14) when the second locking member (28) is in the actuated position and the first locking member (24) is in the locked position.