System comprising a coffee machine and a coffee grinder device operatively interconnected and the adjustment method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee grinding systems struggle to accurately adjust grind fineness due to external factors affecting productivity, leading to inconsistent coffee doses and extraction issues, as they rely on predetermined grinding times and lack real-time mass control.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a dispensing machine and a grinding device interconnected by a control unit that adjusts grind fineness based on infusion parameters, with a weighing device ensuring consistent coffee mass, independent of grinding time, to maintain predetermined ranges and correct for external factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If predetermined grinding times are used to control coffee dose, then the grinding process is simple and fast, but external factors (oxidation, humidity, temperature) cause variations in productivity leading to inconsistent coffee doses
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a weighing device to measure the actual mass of ground coffee produced and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the grinding time or motor speed to compensate for variations in productivity caused by external factors, ensuring consistent coffee dosing despite changes in oxidation, humidity, or temperature conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical timing-based dosing system with an electronic control system that uses a weighing device and control unit to precisely measure and adjust the coffee dose. This substitution allows for real-time compensation of productivity variations without requiring complex mechanical adjustments to the grinding mechanism itself.
2Reliability
If grinding adjustment is made to correct extraction issues, then extraction quality improves, but the system cannot distinguish between incorrect grinding and incorrect dose caused by external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing device provides accurate feedback on the actual coffee dose delivered, allowing the control unit to distinguish between extraction issues caused by incorrect grind fineness versus those caused by incorrect dose quantity. This precise measurement enables targeted adjustments to grinding parameters only when actually needed, rather than making unnecessary adjustments to compensate for dosing variations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a grinding reservoir is used to store ground coffee, then the system is simpler, but it is impossible to adjust grinding fineness between doses as the reservoir contains pre-ground coffee
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the grinding reservoir from the system to enable dynamic adjustment of grinding fineness between doses. By eliminating the reservoir that would contain pre-ground coffee, the system can grind fresh coffee at the moment of dispensing with the required fineness setting, accepting that this increases system complexity by requiring direct coupling between the grinder and dispensing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the grinding action immediately before dispensing, rather than in advance. This ensures that the coffee is ground to the correct fineness right before use, maintaining adaptability while minimizing the time ground coffee is exposed to degrading factors like oxidation.
4Reliability
If grinding time is increased to produce finer grind, then extraction quality improves, but productivity decreases and dose delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the grinding time and/or motor speed based on real-time feedback from the weighing device. Rather than using fixed grinding times, the control unit modifies the grinding parameters to achieve the target dose mass efficiently, balancing grind fineness requirements with productivity constraints and adapting to variations in coffee bean characteristics.
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
This solution ensures precise control over grind fineness, eliminating external factor influences and maintaining consistent coffee mass, thereby improving extraction consistency and reducing dose variations.
Implementation Method 1
providing said system with at least one weighing device (40) which weighs the amount of ground powder produced by said grinding device (20)
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for dispensing beverages and/or infusions made from ground powder, comprising: - a dispensing machine having at least one dispensing unit for dispensing said beverages or infusions, by means of water acting on a predetermined dose of ground powder contained in a filter, - a grinding device having at least one grinding unit comprising a reservoir of grains or beans and grinding means of the grains or beans for obtaining said ground powder, - wherein the dispensing machine and the grinding device are operatively interconnected by means of a control unit programmed to control and adjust the grinding means in order to obtain a certain degree of fineness of the ground powder, as a function of at least one infusion parameter of the dispensing machine so that said infusion parameter remains within a predetermined range, - wherein the system for dispensing beverages is equipped with at least one weighing device which weighs the amount of ground powder produced by the grinding device, ensuring that the quantity is always within a predetermined range, regardless of the adjustment made of the grinding means as a function of the infusion parameter.