Telescopic Dosing Device for Precise Ground Coffee Volume Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing devices for ground materials, such as coffee beans, often require laborious calculations to achieve a desired dosing volume, and may not deliver exact dosages due to limitations in volume adjustment, especially when the desired volume is not an integral multiple of the dispensed amount per pivoting action.

Innovation Solution

A grinder with a dosing device featuring a telescopically adjustable opening/closing device and dispensing spout, allowing for precise adjustment of dosing volumes through a combination of threaded and frictional connections, enabling easy and reliable delivery of specific dosing volumes independent of grinding duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a fixed volume container is used for dosing with pivoting action, then the device structure is simple, but the dosing volume precision deteriorates when the desired volume is not an integral multiple of the container volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoiddosing volume precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The container volume is made dynamically adjustable through telescopic engagement between the opening/closing device and dispensing spout. The opening/closing device can be positioned at different extension stages relative to the dispensing spout, creating variable dosing chamber volumes. This dynamic adjustment allows precise matching of container volume to any desired dosing volume, eliminating the limitation of fixed-volume containers while maintaining simple mechanical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the container volume is increased to reduce the number of pivoting operations, then the productivity improves, but the device complexity increases due to larger components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of pivoting operationsVSAvoidcomponent size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single large fixed-volume container, the invention employs a dynamically adjustable container where the opening/closing device telescopes relative to the dispensing spout. This allows the effective dosing volume to be optimized for each specific dosing requirement, enabling high productivity by reducing the number of operations while avoiding the need for oversized components. The telescopic mechanism provides continuous volume adjustment within a compact form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the opening/closing device and dispensing spout are telescopically adjustable, then the dosing volume precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing volume precisionVSAvoidadjustment mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The opening/closing device is designed with telescopic engagement with the dispensing spout, allowing the dosing chamber volume to be adjusted by changing the relative extension position of these two components. This dynamic adjustment mechanism provides precise volume control through simple linear displacement, achieving high dosing precision without requiring complex multi-axis adjustment systems or additional sophisticated mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic adjustment mechanism serves multiple functions: it adjusts the dosing chamber volume, controls the opening/closing action, and defines the dispensing geometry. By combining these functions into a single integrated telescopic system, the invention achieves precise dosing control without adding separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining device simplicity while improving precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 allows for quick, easy, and precise dosing of ground materials, ensuring accurate delivery of desired volumes without mixing coffee bean types, and maintaining freshness and aroma, with the ability to adjust dosing volumes over a wide range.

Implementation Method 1

a ground material comminuting device which is arranged downstream of the outlet opening of the dispensing nozzle, taking gravity into account, and which is arranged such that the outlet opening is closed or opened by an operating state of the ground material comminuting device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

A proportion of the product is released from the storage container to the dosing device, for example by means of gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3092464B1Grinder and automatic coffee machine for metering ground products
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 MARCO TSCHUEMPERLIN
  • EP3092464B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b
  • EP3092464B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d
  • EP3092464B1 patent drawingFigure 3e

AI summary

The invention relates to a metering device (10) for metering products (28). The metering device (10) comprises a storage container (12); an opening/closing device (16) arranged at a region of the outlet opening of the storage container (12), having a closing body (26) which is rotatably arranged transversely to an outlet direction; and a dispensing nozzle (20) with an outlet opening (32), wherein the dispensing nozzle (20) is formed by a hollow body and engages with the opening/closing device (16) in such a way that the dispensing nozzle (20) and the opening/closing device (16) are adjustable in relation to one another in a telescopic manner.