Coffee grinder

A coffee grinder suitable for home use can include a housing that receives coffee beans, a grinding component within the housing, a removable container that receives coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a base located beneath the grinding component that supports the container. Magnetic components in the base and removable container can optimally align the container when placed atop the base. A knocker system can dislodge ground coffee residue into the container when actuated. An intelligent drive system can utilize feedback to drive the grinding component at a constant speed to minimize coffee grounds size variances. A grinds chamber in the housing can define an asymmetrical cross-sectional geometry. An auger that drives the grinding component can have an outer thread that forces coffee beans through the grinds chamber, and a grinds chamber housing can include a protective shoulder that covers a lead-in portion of the outer thread.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to coffee related products, and more particularly to coffee grinders suitable for home use.

BACKGROUND

Coffee aficionados currently have many ways of procuring high quality coffee to meet their consumption desires. Coffee shops can have different types of coffee of varying qualities, while grocery stores and specialty coffee shops provide already ground coffee for users to brew or otherwise craft their own coffee at home. For those who like to take home whole coffee beans, there are many coffee related products that can be used in homes and other small environments to grind their own beans and craft their own coffee in different ways. Such products can include simple and moderately complex home coffee grinders that allow users to experiment with a wide array of ordinary and exotic coffee bean varieties.

Unfortunately, simpler coffee grinders intended for home use often do not have all of the features and abilities of expensive industrial and commercial coffee grinders in high volume production and sophisticated coffee shop environments. For example, despite the fact that size consistency can be a significant factor in the quality of the crafted coffee, many home use coffee grinders are not able to grind coffee beans to a consistently ground size across all particles. Rather, these products tend to produce coffee grounds that can vary in size by as much as 1000 microns or more across a single ground batch. As another example, many home coffee grinders tend to have residue that is left behind from one ground batch to another, with such residue then leading to messes or affecting the purity of future ground batches.

Although traditional ways of grinding coffee beans at home have worked well in the past, improvements are always helpful. In particular, what is desired are high quality coffee grinders that produce consistently sized coffee grounds, that contain minimal coffee residues between batches, and that are still suitable for use in home or other small environments.

SUMMARY

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide high quality coffee grinders that are suitable for home use and other small environments. The disclosed features, apparatuses, systems, and methods provide high quality home coffee grinders that produce consistently sized coffee grounds, that contain minimal coffee residues between batches, and that are less likely to create inconvenient messes, among other favorable results. These advantages can be accomplished at least in part by utilizing coffee grinder components that may include a magnetic catch, a knocker system, an intelligent drive system, an auger with a protected lead-in thread region, and/or an asymmetrically shaped grinds chamber, as well as other possible components, features, and details.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus can include a housing configured to receive coffee beans, a grinding component located within the housing and configured to grind coffee beans received in the housing into coffee grounds, a removable container or “catch” located beneath the grinding component and configured to receive coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a base located beneath the grinding component and configured to support the removable container at an upper surface thereof. The removable container can include one or more sides, a bottom, and a first magnetic component, while the base can include a second magnetic component that is configured to interact with the first magnetic component to align automatically the removable container with respect to the grinding component when the removable container is placed atop the base.

Additional embodiments of the present disclosure can include an apparatus having a housing configured to receive coffee beans, a grinding component located within the housing and configured to grind coffee beans received in the housing into coffee grounds, a container located beneath the grinding component and configured to receive coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a knocker system configured to dislodge ground coffee residue into the container when the knocker system is actuated. The ground coffee residue can be dislodged from the grinding component, a region between the grinding component and the container, or both.

In further embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus can include a housing configured to receive coffee beans, a grinding component located within the housing and configured to grind coffee beans received in the housing into coffee grounds, a container located beneath the grinding component and configured to receive coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and an intelligent drive system configured to drive the grinding component. The intelligent drive system can utilize feedback during a grinding process so that the apparatus produces a batch of coffee grounds having an overall size variance that is less than about 400 microns.

In still further embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus can include a housing configured to receive coffee beans, a grinding component located within a grinds chamber inside the housing and configured to grind coffee beans received in the housing into coffee grounds, a container located beneath the grinding component and configured to receive coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, an auger configured to rotationally drive the grinding component, and a grinds chamber housing around at least a portion of the grinds chamber. The auger can include an outer thread that forces coffee beans through the grinds chamber when the auger rotates, and the grinds chamber housing can include a protective shoulder that covers a lead-in portion of the outer thread such that coffee beans do not contact the lead-in portion during a grinding process.

Yet additional embodiments of the present disclosure can include an apparatus having a housing configured to receive coffee beans, a grinding component located within the housing and configured to grind coffee beans received in the housing into coffee grounds, a container located beneath the grinding component and configured to receive coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a grinds chamber surrounding at least a portion of the grinding component, wherein the grinds chamber defines a cross-sectional shape that is asymmetrical.

Other apparatuses, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional apparatuses, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary applications of apparatuses, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure are described in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the disclosure. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details provided herein. In some instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of the present disclosure. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it is understood that these examples are not limiting, such that other embodiments may be used, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

The present disclosure relates in various embodiments to systems, apparatuses, features, and methods for a high-quality coffee grinder suitable for home use. The disclosed systems, apparatuses, features, and methods can allow for grinding coffee beans at home or another small environment without resulting in uneven grinding, high variances across coffee ground sizes, undesirable messes, or significant residue carrying over from one grind batch to another. In particular, the disclosed features and devices can include a dual burr coffee grinder having a knocker system, a magnetic catch, an intelligent drive system, a protected auger thread lead-in, an asymmetrical grinds chamber, and/or a grinds chamber slide portion, among many other features.

Although the various embodiments disclosed herein focus on a dual burr coffee grinder suitable for home use for purposes of simplicity in illustration, it will be readily appreciated that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, features, and methods can similarly be used for industrial grade coffee grinders, high-end commercial coffee grinders, and many other food processing or grinding applications. For example, disclosed coffee grinder features such as a magnetic catch, a knocker system, an intelligent drive system, an auger with a protected lead-in thread region, and/or an asymmetrically shaped grinds chamber can be used individually or in any combination for home coffee grinders, and can also be used individually or in any combination for large commercial or industrial grinding applications.

Referring first toFIG.1, an example coffee grinder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in front perspective view. Coffee grinder100can include various components, such as an outer housing110, a load chute120, a grinds knob130, a removable container140, a base150, and a knocker system lever160, among other possible items. Each of these components can include various parts and features, many of which are described in greater detail below.

Continuing withFIGS.2A-2C, the example coffee grinder ofFIG.1is shown in side elevation view, front elevation view, and top plan view respectively. In addition to the foregoing components, coffee grinder100can include a textured rear housing cap112and a front housing cap114coupled to the outer housing110, a thin removable lid121located atop the load chute120, and a power button152, a power cord154, and a support column156located about the base150. Support column156can serve to support all upper components, and may also house an internal processor, power components, and other related items. Although shown as having a scalloped and circular shape, it will be readily appreciated that support column can have many other designs and shapes.

Power button152can be located along a side of base150to reduce grinds residue and other messes that might be greater and more likely to contaminate the button if it were at an upper surface location of the base150. Power button152can allow for a single touch operation to start the grinding process, which then stops automatically when the coffee grinder detects that there are no beans left to grind. Such detection can be by way of the intelligent drive system detailed below. For example, the intelligent drive system can include a sensor that detects increased rotational speeds that reflect when no load is being applied to the grinding system. In the event that no load is detected when power button152is first pressed, then the coffee grinder100can run for a set short amount of time before automatically stopping, such as ten seconds for example. As an additional function, coffee grinder100may continue to run as long as power button152is continuously pressed.

FIG.3illustrates in side cross-sectional view the example coffee grinder ofFIG.1. Various internal components and features of coffee grinder100are shown along the side cross-section3depicted inFIG.2C. Load chute120essentially forms a small hopper that is configured to receive coffee beans when lid121is removed. In some embodiments, load chute120can hold up to 80 grams of coffee beans, since it may be desirable to grind fresh beans only in small batches and not leave coffee grounds in the load chute. Of course, smaller or larger load chute sizes may also be used. In various embodiments, lid121can have a layer of sound insulation added thereto, such that sound can be dampened for a quieter grinding process. A sound insulation layer can also be added to the walls of load chute120, as well as one or more regions of outer housing110for similar sound dampening effects. The bottom walls123of load chute120slope downward, such that received coffee beans slide downward and fall through opening124beneath umbrella cover125. This umbrella cover125can shield auger180, protective shoulder116, grinds chamber190, and other internal components from any coffee beans or foreign objects dropping from a significant height directly onto and damaging such internal components.

An intelligent drive system can function to drive the auger180, which can be at least partially contained within a grinds chamber housing193. The auger180can be coupled to and in turn drive a grinding component during a coffee bean grinding process. Such a grinding component can be, for example, a moving burr191that is part of a parallel dual burr grinding system. A corresponding stationary burr, the auger180, and other drive components can also be considered grinding components for purposes of discussion herein. In various embodiments, the intelligent drive system can utilize feedback during a grinding process so that the coffee grinder100produces a batch of coffee grounds having an overall size variance that is less than about 400 microns. The intelligent drive system can achieve this result by spinning the grinding component at a constant speed for a more consistent grind size across all coffee grounds. For example, a constant rotational speed of about 1200 revolutions per minute (“RPM”) has been found to be a suitable speed for a consistent grind.

Of course, the level of constant rotational speed can be different as may be desired for a given design. For example, a constant rotational speed of anywhere from 1000 RPM to 2000 RPM for a single grinding session may also be suitable. A constant rotational speed can be accomplished by varying the torque applied to the drive shaft and thus the grinding component at different times during the grinding process. In contrast, simpler coffee grinders typically operate at a constant torque input, which then results in a varying rotational speed of about 1600-3500 RPM across a single grinding session depending on the amount of load created by the coffee beans being ground, which varying rotational speeds results in greater size variances and lower quality across a single batch of coffee grounds.

The intelligent drive system can include a rotational motor170, an elongated drive shaft172coupled to the motor170and the auger180, a sensor174located proximate the drive shaft and configured to detect the rotational speed of the drive shaft, and a processor176in communication with both the motor and the sensor. The motor170can be configured to rotate the drive shaft172in at least a forward drive direction. The drive shaft172can be elongated in order to reduce the potential amount of angular misalignment at the location of moving burr191. Bearings at the front and rear of drive shaft172can assist in reducing any amount of angular misalignment for the burrs. In various embodiments, the processor176can be configured to receive an input signal from the sensor174regarding a rotational speed of the drive shaft172and send an output signal to the rotational motor170to adjust a power output of the motor in response to the input signal. With the sensor174monitoring the speed of the drive shaft172and providing feedback to the processor176, the processor can instruct the motor170increase or decrease its power output to maintain constant speed.

In various embodiments, the motor can be a direct current (“DC”) electric motor, the sensor can be a Hall effect sensor, and the processor can be a proportional-integral-derivative (“PID”) controller. In such instances, the output signal from the processor can be an instruction to increase or decrease the voltage that powers the DC motor. Of course, other types of motors, sensors, and processors may be used to provide a feedback loop to a motor in order to maintain a constant speed of the drive shaft172. For example, the motor could be a stepper motor, the sensor could be an optical sensor, and the processor could be a predictive feedback controller or other more sophisticated processor.

In some embodiments, the intelligent drive system can include an unjamming function in the event that the auger180, moving burr191, or another grinding component becomes jammed during the grinding process, such as by a foreign object or an unusual arrangement of coffee beans getting stuck in the coffee grinder100. A jam during a grinding process could result from a signal from the sensor174that indicates that there is a problem with the rotational speed of the drive shaft172, such as a rotational speed that is outside of a predefined acceptable range. For example, the intelligent drive system may aim for a constant grind speed of about 1200 RPM, with an actual range in grind speed of about 1100-1600 RPM during the feedback and adjustment process. If the sensor174detects an improper rotational speed while full torque is being applied to the motor170, then the processor176can determine that the coffee grinder100is jammed. An improper rotational speed could be 0, or could be anything less than 500 RPM, for example. The processor176could then respond by sending a different output signal to the motor170to reverse the drive rotation of the motor to unjam the coffee grinder100. The processor176could also respond to determining that the grinder is jammed by emitting a beep or other sound to alert the user. For example, an “SOS” pattern of beeping might be a suitable jam alert.

Turning next toFIG.4A, the example coffee grinder ofFIG.1having its container removed is illustrated in perspective view. Removable container140, which may also be referred to as a “catch,” can be placed atop base150such that it is under a dispensing region of coffee grinder100during the grinding process. Fresh coffee grounds can then be captured into the catch or removable container140through opening148. A user can then transport the coffee grounds in the catch140to another location and pour them out in order to make coffee.

In order to reduce or eliminate waste or mess, it is preferable that removable container140be accurately aligned beneath the dispensing region so that all coffee grounds fall into the container. An optimal horizontal alignment results when the removable container is perfectly centered on cover157on an upper surface of base150. Substantially all coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component are received into the removable container140with no spill or mess when the removable container is aligned horizontally at an optimal horizontal alignment with respect to the grinding component.

To facilitate an optimal or accurate alignment, a catch magnetic component can be located proximate the bottom of removable container140and a corresponding base magnetic component can be located beneath cover157. The catch magnetic component and base magnetic component can be arranged such that a magnetic attraction takes place a user places the removable container140on top of cover157. The magnetic components then interact to move or slightly adjust the removable container horizontally across the base and align it accurately beneath the dispensing region. In some embodiments, the resulting horizontal alignment of the removable component can be within about 1.5 mm of an optimal horizontal alignment for the removable component.

FIG.4Billustrates in side cross-sectional view the removable container140when it is accurately aligned on the base of150the coffee grinder. Base150can include a base magnet158within a base magnet holder159, with both of these items located just beneath cover157. Removable container140can include one or more sides141and a catch magnet142within a catch magnet holder143, with both of these items embedded within the bottom of the removable container beneath a rise144in the bottom. Removable container140can also include one or more wings145and a removable cover146with a cover overholding147. It will be readily appreciated that catch magnet142and base magnet158can be any magnetic components arranged to have a magnetic attraction force between them. In some instances, only one of these components needs to be a magnet, while the other may simply be a metallic item. In some instances, both of these components can be magnets, and the magnets can be arranged such that opposite poles for each magnet are facing each other in the position shown.

Continuing withFIG.5A, an example removable container for a coffee grinder is shown in rotated perspective view. For purposes of illustration, removable container140is also shown in side perspective cross-sectional view inFIG.5B, in top plan view with its cover removed inFIG.6A, and in side exploded view inFIG.6B. In addition to the catch magnet142facilitating an accurate container alignment during grinding, catch wings145can also reduce or eliminate waste or mess. Catch wings145can be curved flanges that help to funnel coffee grounds as they are poured out of the removable container140. Each of catch wings145can be fastened to an inner side141of removable container140, such as by welds, glue, rivets, or other type of attachment. In some arrangements, the walls or sides141and catch wings145can both be formed of aluminum, stainless steel, or some other metal, such that spot welding can be used to fasten the catch wings to the sides. Each of catch wings145may define an involute curve, such that they can be readily attached to an inner cylindrical wall141of removable container140while also promoting an efficient pour of coffee grounds from the container. Removable container145may also include useful indicators (not shown) rising along its inner sides141, which indicators can suggest an amount of water to be used in making coffee corresponding to the level of grounds in the container.

In various embodiments, removable container140can include a removable cover146to facilitate the easy pouring of coffee grounds from the container. This removable cover146can have a central opening148to allow coffee grounds to be dispensed into the removable container140, and can be formed from metal or hard plastic, for example. A cover overmolding147can be formed from rubber or another suitable flexible material that is molded over the removable cover146. To facilitate this construction, the removable cover146can include a number of holes or perforations through which the cover overmolding147is formed. The flexible nature of the cover overmolding147allows for a ready and snug fit between the removable container140and the dispensing region of the coffee grinder100when the removable container is accurately aligned horizontally beneath the dispensing region. This ready and snug fit resulting from the flexible cover overmolding147occurs even where various relevant parts vary in size, which size variances can occur due to tolerance ranges and stack up during a mass manufacturing process. The flexible nature of cover overholding147thus facilitates a proper vertical alignment of removable container140with respect to the dispensing region.

Moving now toFIG.7A, an example drive system auger for a coffee grinder is shown in side perspective view. Auger180can include an outer thread181having a lead-in portion that gradually rolls into and ends at auger shoulder182at a narrow end of the auger and a tapered lead-out portion183of the outer thread toward an outer disk portion184that is integrally formed at the opposite end of the auger. Outer thread181serves to guide or force coffee beans from the narrow end of the auger180toward the outer disk portion184when the auger rotates during the grinding process. As the guided coffee beans approach the outer disk portion184of the auger180, they reach the burrs inside the grinds chamber where they are then ground. While the pitch of outer thread181is constant as shown inFIG.7A, it is also contemplated that a variable pitch thread or multiple threads could be used.

Auger180can also rotationally drive one or more other grinding components, such as a moving burr coupled to the auger. A coupling plate185located at an inner surface of the outer disk portion184of auger180can facilitate attachment of a moving burr to the auger, such that the moving burr is driven by and travels with the auger as the auger rotates. The moving burr can rotate with respect to a facing stationary burr during a typical grinding process. Auger wings188extend from opposite sides of outer disk portion184, and these auger wings can serve to create air flow and help sweep coffee grinds and residue out of the grinds chamber, as explained in greater detail below.

Some of these auger functions can be seen inFIG.7B, which illustrates auger180within a grinds chamber housing in side perspective cross-sectional view. As shown, auger180can have a hollow cylindrical center through which drive shaft172extends. Rotational motor170drives the elongated drive shaft172extending therefrom, which in turn rotationally drives the auger180such that outer thread181guides coffee beans through the grinds chamber190from protective shoulder116toward outer disk portion184and into the burrs191,192. Protective shoulder116can be integrally formed as part of an internal housing, such as grinds chamber housing193or any other suitable internal component. Protective shoulder116can cover the lead-in portion of outer thread181and auger shoulder182, such that the slope or irregular nature of the lead-in thread portion does not contact and jostle coffee beans during high speed auger rotation, such as that which takes place during a typical grinding process. Grinds chamber housing193can also include a downward sloping region111beneath auger180, such that coffee beans and particles are more easily pushed toward burrs191,192through grinds chamber190due to gravity. Accordingly, the height of outer thread181can increase in order to maintain a constant close spacing between auger180) and grinds chamber housing193at the downward sloping region111. In the event that the pitch of outer thread181is constant, this causes an increase in the pitch to height ratio of the outer thread from the narrow end of the auger180toward its outer disk portion184. The result of downward sloping region111and its close spacing from outer thread181is a lower retention of coffee ground particles and residue after grinding, which results in eliminated or reduced waste as well as greater purity from one grind batch to another.

Shear plate176located in a slot at a distal end of drive shaft172helps to transfer rotational force or torque in a balanced manner from the drive shaft to the outer disk portion184of auger180, which in turn can be mounted to and drive moving burr191, such as by way of the coupling plate185noted above. Moving burr191then rotates at high speed while stationary burr192does not move during the grinding process. Shear plate176can be configured to break when excess force is being transferred to the auger180, such as in the case of a sudden jam. In this manner, a relatively inexpensive and easy to replace broken shear plate176can be replaced rather than have catastrophic damage occur to the more expensive and more difficult to replace auger180, motor170, or another internal component.

The fit between drive shaft172and auger180can be snug along most of the hollow cylindrical center of the auger, so as to reduce any amount of angular misalignment that may occur between the burrs. While this fit is snug for most of the auger180, a widened internal cavity186at the narrow end of the auger can facilitate the presence of a biasing spring117. This spring117can serve to push the auger180such that it slides along the drive shaft172into the proper position when the grinds knob is adjusted for a particular setting. Adjusting the position of the auger180in this manner then results in a greater or lesser spacing between the grinding burrs191,192during a grinding process, which results in a large or small size of grounds.

FIG.8Aillustrates auger180within grinds chamber housing193in front elevation view. As shown inFIG.8A, drive shaft172rotates counter-clockwise while in forward drive, which transfers force to outer disk portion184of the auger by way of shear plate176. Indents187located in the face of outer disk portion184can be used to facilitate the disassembly and removal of auger180. Outer disk portion184can have a non-uniform circumference, such as where auger wings188extend at opposite sides of the outer disk. In various embodiments, a rubber insulator or other damper (not shown) can be placed across the outer face of disk portion184, such that sound can be dampened for a quieter grinding process.

FIG.8Billustrates in close up side perspective view a wing portion of auger180. As noted above, two auger wings188extend from opposite sides of outer disk portion184. These auger wings188generate air flow as they move closely past the edge of grinds chamber housing193, which then blows coffee grounds out of the grinds chamber, such as to a dispensing spout located beneath the auger. Auger wings188can define curved and sloping surfaces189at their leading and trailing sides, such that air flow generated by the auger180is less turbulent in front of the auger wings188due to the shape of these surfaces189as the auger spins or rotates in either direction. This then results in less scatter and mess from the coffee grounds being passed through the coffee grinder. In various embodiments, a thin extender (not shown) made from plastic or another suitable flexible material can extend from the auger wings188to physically sweep the inner surface of grinds chamber housing193for even lower grounds and residue retention.

Continuing withFIGS.9A and9Ba dispensing spout for a coffee grinder is illustrated in front elevation and side cross-sectional views respectively. Dispensing spout119can be located beneath various grinding components, such as auger180and burrs191and192, and can be located above the removable container when the container is properly aligned. In particular, dispensing spout119can have a size and shape that facilitates a smooth or even laminar air flow between from the grinding components and the removable container when coffee grounds are dispensed from the grinding component into the removable container. As shown, an upper region of dispensing spout can curve and slope gradually away from the grinding components. In various embodiments, dispensing spout119can be integrally formed within grinds chamber housing193or another suitable internal housing component.

After passing through dispensing spout119, coffee grounds can then pass through a chute assembly just before they enter the removable container.FIG.10Aillustrates in side cross-sectional view an example chute assembly for a coffee grinder. Chute assembly126can be located directly beneath dispensing spout119and grinds chamber housing193and can be located directly above removable container140when the container is properly aligned within the coffee grinder. Rather than being integrally formed within another component, chute assembly126can be a separate part that attaches to an underside of the coffee grinder housing. Chute assembly126can be formed from a flexible rubber or plastic material, such that an easy and tight mating with the flexible cover of the removable container140) can be obtained whenever the container is properly aligned horizontally. The flexible nature of chute assembly126can also combine with the flexible nature of the cover of removable container140to help facilitate a proper vertical alignment of the removable container with respect to the dispensing region of the coffee grinder, as noted above. Chute assembly126can include a central opening127that facilitates the passage of coffee grounds from the dispensing spout119into the removable container140. As in the case of the dispensing spout119, central opening127can be of a size and shape that promotes smooth or even laminar air flow to allow the smooth passage of coffee grounds. Again, such smooth or laminar air flow can serve to reduce or eliminate messes or wasted coffee grinds. Chute assembly interactions with hammer component164and metal plug199are detailed with the knocker system below.

FIG.10Billustrates in bottom plan view an anti-static safety guard for the dispensing spout of a coffee grinder. Safety guard128can be located between the grinding components and the removable container, and more particularly between the dispensing spout and the chute assembly. In various embodiments, safety guard128can be fastened directly at the lower mouth of the dispensing spout and can be formed from metal or another electrically conductive material. Safety guard128can be configured to allow the passage of coffee grounds from the grinding components into the removable container while preventing the insertion of larger objects, such as a finger, into the grinding components from the opposite direction. Safety guard128can also function to break up clumps of coffee grounds as they are exiting the dispensing spout119. An electrical ground129can provide an anti-static charge release to the safety guard, such that small coffee grounds or residue that are statically charged and clinging to the safety guard128can be discharged and released.

Transitioning toFIG.11A, an example grinds chamber for a coffee grinder is illustrated in front elevation view. Grinds chamber190is a central cavity that is defined by a grinds chamber housing193and is where the coffee beans and partially ground and kicked back or recycled bean grinds are pushed through by the auger and fed into the grinding burrs. Due to the counter-clockwise rotational motion of the auger, as shown inFIG.11A, most of the coffee beans and grinds are fed into the grinding burrs at the left “intake” side of the grinds chamber190and tend to exit the grinding burrs at the right “exit” side of the grinds chamber. As shown inFIG.11A, grinds chamber190generally defines a cross-sectional geometry that is asymmetrical in nature. Rather than have a symmetrical chamber, as is common in many blade and burr coffee grinders, grinds chamber190has a gradual downward slope195on the intake side of the grinding region and a sharply rising slope196on the exit side of the grinding region. This asymmetrical profile results in a more even grind, as coffee beans are gradually fed into the grinding burrs from the side having gradual downward slope195, and partially ground coffee grinds that exit the other side and are recycled back into grinds chamber190fall down the sharply rising slope196toward downward sloping region111at the bottom of the grinds chamber. These recycled grinds are then pushed back into the grinding region faster via the auger thread and downward sloping region interaction noted above, rather than spin around the chamber wildly. This asymmetrical cross-sectional profile for grinds chamber190thus results in a lower retention of coffee ground particles and residue after grinding, with resulting benefits for such noted elsewhere herein.

Continuing withFIG.11B, the grinds chamber is shown in front cross-sectional view with a visible screw distribution for a stationary burr.FIG.11Bdepicts grinds chamber190with moving burr191removed, such that only stationary burr192remains. Stationary burr192can be a standard three screw hole burr that is fastened in place against the grinds chamber housing with three screws197, although other suitable fasteners may also be used. As shown, screws197are arranged in an asymmetrical pattern with respect to a vertical axis of the coffee grinder, rather than a symmetrical pattern that is common for most burr type coffee grinders. The asymmetrical screw pattern allows for the use of commonly available burrs, while resulting in improved grinding at the region above the intake side grinding region194and the dispensing spout119, which is the most used grinding region of the burr in a typical grinding process. By not including a screw in this region, as shown, a constant and uninterrupted grind path is available between the screws located at either end of this most used region.

FIG.12Adepicts stationary burr192in side perspective view, whileFIG.12Bshows grinds chamber190in partial cutaway and partial cross-section side perspective view. Again, stationary burr192does not rotate, while moving burr191is driven in a counter-clockwise direction by the auger (not shown), which is in turn driven by drive shaft172. To prevent small coffee grounds and residue buildup, grinds chamber190is slightly extended by a slide portion198along the side of stationary burr192. Slide portion198covers some of the side of stationary burr192, which is where grounds and residue can get stuck and left behind. By extending the grinds chamber190such that reduced amounts of coffee grounds or residue are left along the side of stationary burr192, waste is reduced, and a greater purity of coffee grounds is observed in each ground batch.

Moving next toFIG.13A, a front-end knob assembly for a coffee grinder is illustrated in front elevation view. Coffee grinder100is shown with front housing cap114removed to reveal a knob assembly131and various screws or fasteners133underneath. Grinds knob130can allow a user to adjust the grind size of the coffee being ground and as such can have various settings, such as about a dozen different size settings. Grinds knob130can be part of knob assembly131, which can be readily removed from coffee grinder100, such as for servicing or replacement. Knob assembly131can have a “key”132or extension shape that matches the shape of a corresponding housing portion of the coffee grinder100, such that the knob assembly can only be inserted into the coffee grinder in the right orientation.

FIG.13Bshows the front-end knob assembly in side cross-sectional view. As grinds knob130is rotated, an attached click plate134rotates as well, with a spring-loaded pin135clicking into various detents in the backside of the click plate as the knob is rotated from one setting to another. Threaded spacer136rotates to move forward or backward as the grinds know130and click plate134are rotationally adjusted, and this spacer in turn pushes a rotational bearing137up against or away from auger180. Auger shifts forward or backward accordingly, which results in an adjusted spacing between the dual grinding burrs.

FIG.13Cillustrates in front cross-sectional view a corner of the front-end knob assembly to show how front housing cap114can be readily snapped onto or off of the coffee grinder. A detent115at an inner portion of the sidewall of front housing cap114corresponds to a pin139that extends outward from a sidewall of knob assembly housing138. Multiple such pins139can be located about the inner housing138, with corresponding detents115being formed along the inner sidewalls of housing cap114. In various embodiments, housing cap114can provide improved aesthetics to the overall coffee grinder by covering all screws, bolts, and other connectors associated with knob assembly131.

Moving next toFIGS.14A and14B, an example knocker system for a coffee grinder is illustrated in side perspective and side staggered cross-sectional views respectively. InFIG.14B, the cross-sectional views are staggered at different locations, which is indicated by stagger line B. Knocker system161can be configured to dislodge coffee grounds and residue from a region in the coffee grinder after a batch of coffee has been ground. The coffee grounds and residue can be dislodged into a container beneath the grinding component and can come from a grinding component and/or one or more locations between the grinding component and the container, which can be a removable container. Actuation of the knocker system161can involve a user pressing or flicking an input such as lever component160. As will be readily appreciated, the removal of most or all coffee grounds and residue is desirable after each batch of coffee is ground in order to eliminate or minimize retention, messes, and impurities that carry over from one ground batch to another.

In various embodiments, knocker system161can include an elongated arm162located proximate a lower region of the grinding component, a hammer component164coupled to a first distal end of the elongated arm, a spring component163coupled to a coffee grinder housing and to the elongated arm, and a lever component160coupled to a second distal of the elongated arm. The spring component163can include a torsion spring within a hollow region of the elongated arm162which provides a biasing force to the elongated arm162that forces a hammer surface165of the hammer component164against some part of the coffee grinder located proximate a lower region of the grinding component. In some arrangements, the part of the coffee grinder struck by the hammer component164can be the chute assembly126described above. The chute assembly126can include a metal plug199that is struck by the hammer component164, resulting in a satisfying metallic ping, with the rest of the chute assembly being a hard plastic that is overmolded around the metal plug199. The chute assembly126can be attached to the coffee grinder housing in locations that are away from metal plug199, such that a springboard effect in the chute assembly increases the effectiveness of the knocker system161. Striking the chute assembly126can be useful in situations where static buildup might cause coffee grounds and residue to cling to the inner walls of the central opening of the chute assembly.

The lever component160, which can be a lever, button, tab, or the like, can be configured to receive an actuation force that overcomes the biasing force of the spring component163in order to rotate the elongated arm162such that the hammer surface165of hammer component164moves away from the chute assembly126or other coffee grinder part to be struck. A release of the actuation force then results in the biasing force causing the elongated arm162to rotate quickly back to its original position such that hammer surface165of the hammer component164strikes the chute assembly126or other coffee grinder component to dislodge the ground coffee residue.

Lastly,FIG.15illustrates in side perspective view an alternative example knocker system for a coffee grinder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Alternative knocker system166can be similar to knocker system161above in that coffee grounds and residue are dislodged from within the coffee grinder due to a knocking effect. Knocker system can include lever component160, an alternative elongated arm167, an alternative spring component168, and an alternative hammer component169. Alternative spring component168can include a compression spring rather than a torsion spring. Various adjustments can be made to the arrangement of alternative knocker system166to result in a similar knocking effect of the hammer component164against some portion of the coffee grinder when the knocker system165is actuated. For example, alternative knocker system166can be configured such that alternative elongated arm167pivots rather than rotates when an actuation force is applied to lever component160.

Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be recognized that the above described disclosure may be embodied in numerous other specific variations and embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Certain changes and modifications may be practiced, and it is understood that the disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing details, but rather is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims.