Vertical roller-type grinding blade and grinder including same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coffee grinders face challenges in minimizing frictional force during grinding, which affects the taste and smell of coffee, and in achieving precise thickness adjustment and easy cleaning, particularly in portable manual grinders.

Innovation Solution

A vertical roller-type grinding blade with eccentric rollers misaligned in the vertical direction, reducing friction through eccentric rotation and allowing for easy adjustment and maintenance of the grinding interval, and a design that facilitates cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a burr type grinder is used to grind coffee beans, then the grinding blades can be adjusted at a desired interval to control particle size, but frictional heat is generated during grinding which volatilizes volatile ingredients and reduces taste and smell quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size controlVSAvoidfrictional heat
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental grinding parameter from shear force (burr type) to compression force (roller type). The rollers apply vertical compression force to the coffee beans, fundamentally altering the grinding mechanism to eliminate frictional heat generation while maintaining particle size control capability through interval adjustment between rollers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a roller type grinder with horizontal rollers is used to reduce friction, then frictional force is minimized, but the structure becomes complicated and adjusting grinding grade is difficult due to installation space requirements and motor arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional forceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from horizontal roller arrangement to vertical roller arrangement, changing the spatial dimension of the grinding mechanism. This vertical configuration reduces the horizontal installation space, simplifies the overall structure, and makes motor arrangement more straightforward while maintaining the compression-based low-friction grinding principle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the traditional roller grinder design by arranging rollers vertically rather than horizontally, and by having rollers rotate in place rather than translating. This inversion simplifies the mechanical structure and makes the device more suitable for portable applications while preserving the low-friction grinding advantage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the grinding blades are made thinner to reduce friction contact area, then friction is reduced, but the structural strength and stability of the grinding blade decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefrictionVSAvoidgrinding blade strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs curved, arc-shaped grinding surfaces on the rollers rather than flat surfaces. This curvature allows for optimized stress distribution during compression, maintaining structural strength while minimizing the actual contact area with coffee beans, thereby reducing friction without compromising blade integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Weight of moving object

If a portable manual grinder is designed with simple structure, then weight and cost are reduced, but achieving precise thickness adjustment and easy cleaning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinder weightVSAvoidthickness adjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interval adjustment mechanism serves multiple functions: it precisely controls the grinding particle size, maintains consistent grinding pressure, and can be easily adjusted by the user. The simple screw-based mechanism provides fine adjustment capability while remaining lightweight and easy to operate, fulfilling multiple requirements simultaneously

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 minimizes frictional heat, reduces the weight and cost of the grinding blade, prevents popping of coffee beans, and allows for simple and stable adjustment of the grinding interval, making it easier to manufacture and maintain, while ensuring efficient grinding and easy cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

a center line and a rotation line of each eccentric roller are eccentrically disposed to be misaligned with each other so that a compression force is applied to a grinding object and the grinding object is ground due to eccentric rotation of the eccentric rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric rotation: Eccentric

Implementation Method 2

there is an increasing demand for grinding coffee beans with small friction to improve a taste and a smell of coffee. Since frictional heat generated while grinding the coffee beans volatilizes volatile ingredients in the coffee beans

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction through vertical roller arrangement: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3626346B1Vertical roller-type grinding blade and grinder including same
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 YOON HYUK BEOM
  • EP3626346B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626346B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3626346B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a vertical roller-type grinding blade and a grinder including the same, the blade comprising: an outer blade having a hollow space formed therein; and an inner blade which can be installed to be rotated by a rotating shaft in the hollow space of the outer blade and includes at least two eccentric rollers installed to each other such that a center line and a rotation axis of each roller are misaligned and eccentric to each other, wherein the center lines of the eccentric rollers are misaligned and eccentric to each other.