IP Library Granted Patent US 12690717
Granted Patent B2
US 12690717 · App. 17/908,297 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Grind size adjustment assembly comprising a coffee machine, coffee machine of an assembly of this type, and method for adjusting the grind size

Inventors: Kai Hallmann (Minden, DE); Armin Hensel (Rahden, DE); Bernd Buchholz (Rahden, DE)
Assignee: Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions GmbH & Co. KG
A47J42/18A47J42/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12690717
App. No.
17/908,297
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A grind size adjustment assembly has at least one coffee machine with at least one grinder for grinding coffee beans. The at least one grinder has a first grinding disc, a second grinding disc and a drive unit, via which at least one of the two grinding discs is rotatably operated, as well as a control unit. The grind size adjustment assembly also has at least one server, wherein the at least one grinder has at least one sensor unit. A coffee machine is provided. A method for grind size adjustment in a grind size adjustment assembly and a method for telemetrically adjusting the grind size in a grind size adjustment assembly are also provided.

Claims (28)

1 . A grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) comprising at least one coffee machine having at least one grinder ( 2 ) for grinding coffee beans ( 8 ), wherein the at least one grinder ( 2 ) comprises a first grinding disc ( 3 ), a second grinding disc ( 4 ) and a drive unit ( 6 ), the grinding unit being configured to rotatably drive at least one of the two grinding discs ( 3 , 4 ), as well as a control unit ( 10 ), wherein the grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) further comprises at least one server ( 15 ) and the at least one grinder ( 2 ) comprises at least one sensor device ( 12 ),

wherein the control unit ( 10 ) has a regulating unit and, together with the sensor device ( 12 ) and a force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ), forms a control loop ( 16 ) configured for regulating a grind size of the grinder ( 2 ), and

wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) is designed in such a way that the at least one server ( 15 ) transmits to the control unit ( 10 ) predetermined data for the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ).

2 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor device ( 12 ) forms or comprises at least one indication of the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ) of the coffee machine.

3 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) is a service provider.

4 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) is a higher-level control device and is connected to the coffee machine via the control unit ( 10 ) in a wired or/and wireless manner.

5 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 10 ) is configured as an interface that transmits data from the sensor device ( 12 ) to the at least one server ( 15 ) and receives data from the server ( 15 ).

6 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the control loop further includes a fineness adjustment device ( 7 ) of the grinder ( 2 ), and

wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) is designed in such a way that the at least one server ( 15 ) transmits to the control unit ( 10 ) predetermined data for the fineness adjustment ( 7 ) and the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ).

7 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) has a regulating unit and forms the control loop ( 17 ) with the control unit ( 10 ), the sensor device ( 12 ), and the fineness adjustment ( 7 ) and the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ) for regulating a grind size of the grinder ( 2 ).

8 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 10 ) is connected to the at least one server ( 15 ) via a telemetry link ( 18 ), wherein the grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) forms a telemetric grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ).

9 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one coffee machine comprises at least two coffee machines, and wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) is connected to the at least two coffee machines by means of the telemetry link ( 18 ) and controls their respective grinders ( 2 ) and evaluates their data.

10 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) carries out monitoring of the grinder ( 2 ) by means of the data received from the control unit ( 10 ).

11 . The grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one server ( 15 ) is arranged in a cloud (C).

12 . A method for adjusting the grind size of a grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ) having a coffee machine with a grinder and a control unit, comprising the method steps of

(VS 1 ) inputting a reference variable (target value) for a grind size of the grinder ( 2 ) into a force generation device ( 7 a ) of grinding tools ( 3 , 4 ) of the grinder ( 2 ) of the coffee machine before operation or during operation of the grinder ( 2 );

(VS 2 ) detecting forces or/and positions of the grinder ( 2 ) by means of a sensor device ( 12 ), generating a corresponding indication signal of force generation device ( 7 a ); and

(VS 3 ) comparing the indication signal thus obtained with the reference variable (target value) or with a reference variable obtained from a server ( 15 ), and setting the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ) of the coffee machine for adjusting the grind size of the grind size adjustment assembly ( 1 ),

wherein the control unit ( 10 ) has a regulating unit and, together with the sensor device ( 12 ) and the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ), forms a control loop ( 16 ) configured for regulating the grind size of the grinder ( 2 ), and

wherein the server ( 15 ) is designed in such a way that the server ( 15 ) transmits to the control unit ( 10 ) predetermined data for the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ).

13 . A method for telemetrically adjusting a grind of a grind size adjustment assembly comprising a coffee machine with at least one grinder and a control unit, and a server, comprising the method steps of

(VS 1 ) inputting a reference variable (target value) for a grind size of the grinder ( 2 ) before operation or during operation of the grinder ( 2 ) into a regulating unit of the control unit ( 10 ) or of the server ( 15 ) communicating with the control unit ( 10 ), wherein the regulating unit adjusts grinding tools ( 3 , 4 ) of the grinder ( 2 ) via a force generation device ( 7 a ) via an actuating signal;

(VS 2 ) detecting forces or/and positions of the grinder ( 2 ) by means of a sensor device ( 12 ), generating a corresponding measuring signal ( 12 b ) and forwarding the measuring signal ( 12 b ) to the regulating unit; and

(VS 3 ) comparing the measuring signal ( 12 b ) thus obtained with the reference variable (target value) and forming a corresponding control signal for controlling the grind size of the grinder ( 2 ),

wherein the regulating unit, together with the sensor device ( 12 ) and the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ), forms a control loop ( 16 ) configured for regulating the grind size of the grinder ( 2 ), and

wherein the server ( 15 ) is designed in such a way that the server ( 15 ) transmits to the control unit ( 10 ) predetermined data for the force generation device ( 7 a ) of the grinder ( 2 ).

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the measuring signal ( 12 b ) is transmitted by the control unit ( 10 ) via a telemetry link ( 18 ) to the server ( 15 ) in a cloud (C), and wherein the server ( 15 ) transmits the control signal via the telemetry link ( 18 ) to the control unit ( 10 ).

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the control unit ( 10 ) transmits additionally detected parameters to the server ( 15 ), wherein the server ( 15 ) performs different evaluations from the values thus obtained, detected measuring signals and actuating signals.