Removable Hopper Dosing Device to Prevent Coffee Bean Contamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee beverage preparation machines face issues with residue accumulation in the grinding device, contamination between different types of coffee beans, and the inability to accurately supply predefined doses of coffee beans, leading to inefficiencies and product waste.

Innovation Solution

A removable hopper with a volumetric dosing device that selectively supplies predefined doses of coffee beans, featuring a container with a lower aperture, a rotatable closing base plate, and a dosing device with rotating sectors to ensure precise dosing and minimize residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a removable hopper is used to allow changing of coffee bean types, then adaptability is improved, but residue accumulation in the grinding device increases causing contamination between different bean types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to change coffee bean typesVSAvoidcontamination between different bean types

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the dosing function from the grinding device and relocates it to the removable hopper. The hopper includes a dosing device with a dosing chamber and outlet that selectively supplies predefined doses of coffee beans directly to the grinding device, preventing residue accumulation in the grinding device and eliminating contamination between different bean types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The dosing device in the hopper acts as an intermediary between the coffee bean storage and the grinding device. It precisely controls the transfer of coffee beans, supplying only the required dose to the grinding device and preventing excess beans from remaining in the grinding device, thus avoiding contamination when changing bean types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If manual emptying of the grinding device is performed to avoid contamination, then contamination is prevented, but loss of time increases due to manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidtime for manual emptying

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing device in the hopper performs the dosing function automatically without requiring manual intervention. The hopper selectively supplies predefined doses of coffee beans to the grinding device, and the grinding device processes the beans without needing to be manually emptied, thus preventing contamination while saving time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the grinding device is kept accessible for quick access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases because the device is not watertight allowing beans to lose properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequick access to coffee beansVSAvoidpreservation of coffee bean properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the coffee bean storage system into a removable hopper that can be detached. The hopper includes a container with a closing element that can close the outlet aperture when disconnected from the machine. This allows the hopper to be easily removed and reattached while maintaining the integrity of the coffee beans through proper closing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250127336A1Hopper for feeding doses of beans, corresponding machine and corresponding method for preparing beverages

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 DE LONGHI APPLIANCES SRL

AI summary

A hopper for feeding predefined doses of beans includes a container for beans provided with a lower aperture with which there is associated a closing base plate disposed rotatable with respect to said container in order to selectively open and close a passage aperture for said beans and a dosing device disposed inside said container. The invention also includes a machine and a method for preparing a coffee beverage.