IP Library Granted Patent US 12,458,172
Granted Patent B2
US 12,458,172 · App. 17/777,117 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Grinder, grinding disk for a grinder, and coffee machine having a grinder of this type

Inventors: Armin Hensel (Rahden, DE); Bernd Buchholz (Rahden, DE)
Assignee: Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions GmbH & Co. KG
A47J42/46A47J31/42A47J42/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,458,172
App. No.
17/777,117
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A grinder for grinding coffee beans has a first grinding disk carrier having a first grinding disk; a second grinding disk carrier having a second grinding disk; and a drive unit, by means of which at least one of the two grinding disks is rotatably operated. At least the grinding disk of the two grinding disks that is rotatably operated by means of the drive unit is directly or indirectly coupled to the drive unit by means of a central interlocking connection, the central interlocking connection being in the form of a continuous shaft-hub connection for direct torque transfer from the drive unit directly or indirectly to the grinding disk.

Claims (15)

1 . A grinder ( 1 ) for grinding coffee beans ( 5 ), wherein the grinder ( 1 ) comprises a first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ) having a first grinding disk ( 2 ), a second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ) having a second grinding disk ( 3 ) and a drive unit ( 4 ), by means of which at least one of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) is rotatably operated, wherein at least the second grinding disk ( 3 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) is rotatably operated by the drive unit ( 4 ) and is coupled to the drive unit ( 4 ) directly or indirectly via a central interlocking connection, wherein this central interlocking connection is designed as a continuous shaft-hub connection of a direct torque transmission from the drive unit ( 4 ) directly or indirectly to the grinding disk ( 2 , 3 ),

and wherein the first grinding disk ( 2 ) has a centric inner contour ( 29 ′) that is in positive engagement with a centric contour projection ( 33 ) of a carrier ( 24 ′) of the first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ).

2 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first grinding disk ( 2 ) or both grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) have an aperture with the centric inner contour ( 29 , 29 ′).

3 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein both grinding disks have the aperture with the centric inner contour ( 29 , 29 ′) and wherein the second grinding disk ( 3 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) which is rotatably driven by the drive unit ( 4 ) is in positive engagement with its aperture with the centric inner contour ( 29 ) with a centric contour ( 25 ) of a carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ), wherein the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ) is connected to a drive shaft ( 21 ) of the drive unit ( 4 ).

4 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ) has a ring section ( 26 ) which is arranged around the centric contour ( 25 ).

5 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ) has a clearance ( 26 a) which is defined by the ring section ( 26 ) and the centric contour ( 25 ).

6 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the contour projection ( 33 ) of the carrier ( 24 ′) of the first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ) has a centric aperture ( 5 a ).

7 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein both grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) each have radially projecting lugs ( 31 , 31 ′) which are integrally formed on outer circumferences of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) in a regularly distributed manner.

8 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the first grinding disk ( 2 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) is inserted into a carrier ( 24 ′) of the first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ) and is axially guided in the carrier ( 24 ′) and axially secured by means of the lugs ( 31 ′).

9 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the first grinding disk ( 2 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) is inserted into the carrier ( 24 ′) of the first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ) in such a way that the lugs ( 31 ′) are each guided axially displaceably in a groove ( 35 ) and are received in an axially secured manner.

10 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein tab-like projections ( 27 ) are arranged in a regularly distributed manner on an outer circumference of a ring section ( 26 ) of the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ), which projections ( 27 ) project from the ring section ( 26 ) of the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ), wherein the tab-like projections ( 27 ) each have an indent ( 28 ) formed therein, which engages with a respective lug ( 31 ) of the second grinding disk ( 3 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ), which is rotatably driven by the drive unit ( 4 ).

11 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the grinder ( 1 ) is designed as a disk grinder.

12 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the centric inner contours ( 29 , 29 ′) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ), the contour projection ( 33 ) of the carrier ( 24 ′) of the first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ) and the centric contour ( 25 ) of the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ) are formed as a polygon, wherein the centric inner contour ( 29 ′) of the first grinding disk ( 2 , 3 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) and the contour projection ( 33 ) of the carrier ( 24 ′) of the first grinding disk carrier (M 1 ) correspond with each other, and wherein the centric inner contour ( 29 ) of the second grinding disk ( 3 ) of the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ), which is rotatably driven by the drive unit ( 4 ), and the centric contour ( 25 ) of the carrier ( 24 ) of the second grinding disk carrier (M 2 ) correspond with each other.

13 . The grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the two grinding disks ( 2 , 3 ) are of identical design.

14 . A coffee machine, in particular fully automatic coffee machine having at least one grinder ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE DATE OF EXECUTION PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 73144 FRAME: 316. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: 10X INNOVATION GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA EUROPA GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA PROFESSIONAL COFFEE SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA SINGLE PORTIONS GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA UK LTD.
To: GLOBAL LOAN AGENCY SERVICES GMBH, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 073937/0791 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2025
From: 10X INNOVATION GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA EUROPA GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA PROFESSIONAL COFFEE SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA SINGLE PORTIONS GMBH & CO. KG; MELITTA UK LTD.
To: GLOBAL LOAN AGENCY SERVICES GMBH, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 073144/0316 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2022
From: HENSEL, ARMIN; BUCHHOLZ, BERND
To: MELITTA PROFESSIONAL COFFEE SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 059916/0133 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 134 875.7 · Dec 18, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230355038A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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