Vacuum-Sealed Coffee Bean Hopper With Rotary Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for storing and dispensing coffee beans are complex, costly, and unreliable in maintaining the organoleptic properties of coffee due to inadequate air and humidity protection.
Innovation Solution
A device with a cylindrical hopper, rotary dosing mechanism, and integrated pneumatic circuit that creates and maintains a vacuum to minimize contact between coffee beans and air, using a unique seal design and control system to efficiently transfer and grind coffee beans for brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a vacuum system is used to protect coffee beans from air and humidity, then coffee quality is preserved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vacuum technology to create an inert environment (vacuum chamber) that protects coffee beans from harmful factors like air and humidity. The vacuum system maintains a controlled atmosphere throughout the storage, dosing, and grinding processes, eliminating the need for complex sealing mechanisms and multiple isolation chambers while effectively preserving coffee quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions (storage, dosing, grinding) into a single integrated vacuum chamber. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sealed containers and multiple transfer mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining protection from air and humidity throughout the entire coffee processing sequence.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a vacuum system is used to protect coffee beans from air and humidity, then coffee quality is preserved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines storage, dosing, and grinding operations within a single vacuum chamber, eliminating the need for multiple sealed containers and complex transfer systems. This integration significantly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining effective protection from air and humidity throughout the entire coffee processing sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
By using a vacuum environment as the primary protection method, the patent eliminates the need for expensive complex sealing mechanisms and multiple isolation chambers required by conventional systems, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while effectively preserving coffee quality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a vacuum system is used to protect coffee beans from air and humidity, then coffee quality is preserved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates storage, dosing, and grinding within a single vacuum chamber, eliminating multiple seals, joints, and transfer points that are potential failure points in conventional systems. This integration enhances reliability by reducing the number of components that could fail while maintaining continuous protection from air and humidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum environment provides a robust and simple protection mechanism that is more reliable than complex sealing systems. By maintaining a single vacuum atmosphere throughout the entire process, the system eliminates the need for multiple sealed compartments and transfer mechanisms, thereby improving overall system reliability.
4Productivity
If coffee beans are stored in large containers to reduce frequency of refilling, then productivity is improved, but contact with air increases compromising quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vacuum environment to protect coffee beans in a large storage chamber, allowing extended storage periods without refilling while maintaining protection from air and humidity. The vacuum atmosphere prevents degradation throughout the entire storage period, enabling large-capacity storage without compromising coffee quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By integrating the entire coffee processing sequence within a single vacuum chamber, the patent allows large amounts of coffee to be stored and processed continuously without exposure to air, thereby improving productivity through reduced refilling frequency while maintaining quality protection.
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 device effectively preserves coffee quality by minimizing exposure to air and humidity, simplifying operation, reducing complexity and costs, and enhancing reliability in coffee bean storage and dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic circuit 20 operable to create and maintain the vacuum in the chamber 2A
Data Source
AI summary
A device for storing and dispensing coffee beans, comprising a hopper defining a chamber adapted to contain the beans and provided, on the bottom, with an admission opening; a support base to support the hopper; a rotary dosing device rotatably mounted in a seat to rotate from and to a rest position, and provided with at least one cavity open on the outer surface of the rotary dosing device; and vacuum generating means to create and maintain the vacuum within the chamber. The dosing device has at least one annular groove engaged by a V-ring seal comprising a sealing lip, which, in said rest position, is compressed against an annular surface of the seat to seal the chamber and it is oriented relative to said seat, so as to be further compressed against said annular surface when subjected to a vacuum created in the chamber when air is sucked out therefrom.