COFFEE GRINDER

The present invention provides a coffee grinder, which comprises a storage chamber for storing coffee beans; a driving assembly having an output shaft; a grinding cartridge; a grinding assembly comprising a grinding wheel rotatably fitted in a grinding base so as to grind coffee beans therebetween; a control circuit board; one or more battery electrically connected to the control circuit board; and a powder receptacle; wherein, the grinding cartridge is longitudinally connected and communicated with the storage chamber at a top end and the powder receptacle at a rear end; the grinding assembly is installed in the grinding cartridge; and the driving assembly is longitudinally disposed in the storage chamber with the output shaft coupled to the grinding assembly to drive the grinding wheel to rotate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a 35 U.S.C. § 119 benefit of earlier filing date; right of priority of Chinese Application No. 202321244897.3, filed on May 22, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of coffee equipment, and more particularly, to a coffee grinder.

Description of Related Art

Existing Portable coffee grinders usually have a drive module and circuit control module placed in an upper main chamber. The main chamber is larger and heavier, a bean container is set in the middle, and a grinding module and a powder receptacle is connected below. The bean container needs to leave a grinding drive space, resulting in very little space to accommodate coffee beans. In addition, when feeding coffee bean, the main chamber and bean container need to be removed by manual rotation, and installed together after feeding, since the grinding connection therebetween needs to be carefully disassembled and then installed carefully, and the main chamber is larger and heavier, it is more complicated and troublesome to operate.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a coffee grinder with a large coffee bean storage space and simple and convenient operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a coffee grinder with a large coffee bean storage space and simple and convenient operation.

The present invention provides a coffee grinder, comprising: a storage chamber for storing coffee beans; a driving assembly having an output shaft; a grinding cartridge; a grinding assembly comprising a grinding wheel rotatably fitted in a grinding base so as to grind coffee beans therebetween; a control circuit board; one or more battery electrically connected to the control circuit board; and a powder receptacle; wherein, the grinding cartridge is longitudinally connected and communicated with the storage chamber at a top end and the powder receptacle at a rear end; the grinding assembly is installed in the grinding cartridge; and the driving assembly is longitudinally disposed in the storage chamber with the output shaft coupled to the grinding assembly to drive the grinding wheel to rotate.

The storage chamber has a cylindrical shell, a storage cover is provided to removably close an open of the cylindrical shell, which can be removed or opened for adding coffee beans to the storage chamber from the open.

The driving assembly comprising a motor longitudinally arranged in the storage chamber, the motor has the output shaft is fixedly connected to the grinding wheel.

The grinding cartridge has an annular base at a top end thereof, the cylindrical shell of the storage chamber has a rear open end connected to the top end of the grinding cartridge; the motor is installed on the annular base and longitudinally extends along a central axis of the storage chamber; and the output shaft passes through a central through hole of the annular base and extends along a central axis of the grinding cartridge.

The driving assembly comprise a housing arranged outside the motor to fixing the motor, the housing is fixed to the annular base of the grinding cartridge; the driving assembly further comprise a gear assembly connected to the motor so that the output shaft drives the grinding wheel to rotate at a desired speed.

In some embodiments, the cylindrical shell and/or the storage cover of the storage chamber are transparent.

In some embodiments, the grinding cartridge comprises a cylindrical shell with an annular base provided at a top end and an annular cover at a rear open end of the cylindrical shell, respectively; central through holes of the annular base, annular cover, grinding wheel, and the grinding base are aligned along a central axis of the grinding cartridge, whereby the output shaft passes through said central through holes, and coffee powder can be dropped to the powder receptacle through said central through holes.

The control circuit board is disposed in the grinding cartridge; and the one or more battery is disposed in the grinding cartridge.

In some embodiments, the grinding cartridge defines a first chamber and the second chamber therein; the grinding assembly is disposed in the first chamber, and the control circuit board and the one or more battery are disposed in the second chamber.

Further, the first chamber is disposed in a center of the grinding cartridge, the second chamber is disposed around the first chamber; the one or more battery and the control circuit board are located in the second chamber and around a periphery of the grinding assembly; the second chamber is an annular space; and the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by an annular protruding wall set within the cylindrical shell of the grinding cartridge; the annular protruding wall defines the first chamber therein; the grinding base is fitted in the first chamber against the annular protruding wall.

In some embodiments, the coffee grinder as claimed in claim1, wherein the grinding cartridge comprises an outer cylindrical shell, a first inner cylindrical shell, and a second inner cylindrical shell; a first chamber for accommodating the grinding assembly and a second chamber around the first chamber for accommodating the circuit board and the one or more battery are concentrically formed within the second inner cylindrical shell; the outer cylindrical shell is connected to the storage chamber at a top end, and is connected to the powder receptacle at a rear end thereof; each of the first and second inner cylindrical shells has an annular base at a top end thereof; the first inner cylindrical shell is fitted in the outer cylindrical shell; the driving assembly is fixed on the annular base of the first inner cylindrical shell; the second inner cylindrical is fitted in the first inner cylindrical; and the annular bases of the first and second inner cylindrical shells are fixed together.

In some embodiments, an annular cover is provided at a rear end of the second inner cylindrical shell; an end of the output shaft with external threads passes through a central hole of the annular cover and is locked by a thread nut; the first inner cylindrical shell, a second inner cylindrical shell and the outer cylindrical shell are fastened using screws and/or snap structures.

In some embodiments, an adjustable member is provided with a threaded hole therethrough, an end of the output shaft is provided with external threads; the threaded end of the output shaft is engaged in the threaded hole of the adjustable member, whereby the output shaft is fitted in the grinding wheel with a tightness adjustable.

In some embodiments, the grinding cartridge has an annular cover at a rear end and communicated with the powder receptacle; the adjustable member is placed in the central through hole and exposed in the powder receptacle; the adjustable member is a thread nut assembly.

The present invention has the following advantages:

The coffee grinder of the present invention has the driving assembly installed in the storage chamber, and its output end can be directly connected to the grinding assembly in the grinding cartridge. The driving assembly can be highly integrated and only takes up a small space, so the Other larger spaces can be fully utilized to place coffee beans, which can maximize space utilization, making the bean storage space of the grinding device of the present invention several times larger than that of common grinding devices of the same size. Moreover, when you need to place coffee beans, you only need to open the storage chamber to easily put the coffee beans in, without the need for a large and bulky body with a control component and a grinding assembly like common grinding devices. The chamber can be removed and reinstalled, making the bean loading operation of the coffee grinder of the present invention simpler and easier. The control device of this application can also make full use of the space around the grinding assembly to maximize space utilization.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to make the subject, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, but not to limit the present invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments below are used for example only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description or claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “comprise”, “include”, “contain” and “have” are inclusive and thus indicate the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements and/or components but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or various other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in the description or claims to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections shall not be referred to as restricted by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used in the description or claims do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

For convenience of description, spatially relative terms may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as shown in the figures. These relative terms, such as “inner”, “outer”, “inside”, “outside”, “below”, “under”, “above”, “on”, “top”, “rear”, etc. Such spatially relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” or “on” the other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used are interpreted accordingly.

The following embodiments illustrate the technical solutions.

Referring toFIGS.1-2, a coffee grinder100in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a storage chamber10, a driving assembly20, a grinding cartridge30, a grinding assembly70, and a powder receptacle400. The grinding cartridge30is connected and communicated with the storage chamber10at a top end and the powder receptacle400at a rear end. An output end of the driving assembly20is coupled to the grinding assembly70. The grinding assembly70is disposed in the grinding cartridge30, the driving assembly20is disposed in the storage chamber10, and a bean storage space for placing coffee beans is left in the storage chamber10.

The coffee grinder100of the present invention sets the driving assembly20in the storage chamber10. The driving assembly20can be configured to take up only a small space, so that the left larger spaces in the storage chamber10can be fully utilized for storing coffee beans, which can maximize the use of space, and obtain the bean storage space several times larger than the existing coffee grinder of the same size. Moreover, when feeding coffee beans, only open the storage chamber10to easily put the coffee beans in. The coffee grinder100of the present invention is simpler and easier to feed coffee beans therein.

Specifically, the storage chamber10is defined by a cylindrical shell1, and the bean storage space is formed between the cylindrical shell1and the driving assembly20. A storage cover11is connected to a top open end of the cylindrical shell1to close the storage chamber10, and can be removed or opened for adding coffee beans to the storage chamber10.

The grinding cartridge30comprises an outer cylindrical shell3, and a first inner cylindrical shell31and a second inner cylindrical shell32that are placed in the outer cylindrical shell3and are sleeved and installed with each other. The second inner cylindrical shell32can be sleeved and fixed in the first inner cylindrical shell31. The outer cylindrical shell3is sleeved outside the first inner cylindrical shell31and connected to the cylindrical shell1of the storage chamber10. As an example, the cylindrical shell1and the outer cylindrical shell3has same diameters, the open rear end of the cylindrical shell1can be tightly connected to a rear open end of the outer cylindrical shell3with buckle or snap structures. The first inner cylindrical shell31can be fitted in the outer cylindrical shell3and further fastened by buckle or snap structures and screws. The second inner cylindrical shell321can be fitted in the first inner cylindrical shell31and further fastened by buckle or snap structures and screws. The first inner cylindrical shell31and the second cylindrical shell32have an annular base311,321with a through central hole respectively for the output shaft25passing through. The driving assembly20is fixed on the annular base311of the first inner cylindrical shell31. Specifically, the motor21is fixed to the housing22, and the housing22is fixed to the annular base311. Protruding legs may be formed on the wall of the housing22. The annular base311may forms according connecting legs, the leges are fixed together by screws or protrusions/holes. The annular base321of the second cylindrical shall32rests on the annular base311of the first cylindrical shell31, there are protruding posts are set on the annular base311which pass through holes in the annular base321for positioning, and screws are provided to further fasten the annular bases311,321together. An annular cover35is provided to cover a rear open end of the assembled first inner cylindrical shell31, second cylindrical shell32and the outer cylindrical shell3, the output shaft35passes through a central through hole in the cover35. Protrusions/holes can be set in/on the walls of the shells3,31and32for positioning.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the coffee grinder100further comprises a control circuit board60and one or more battery50which are disposed in the grinding cartridge30. The control circuit board60and the one or more battery50are arranged around a periphery of the grinding assembly70. The grinding cartridge30defines a first chamber33and a second chamber34therein. The first chamber33and the second chamber34are formed in the second inner cylindrical shell32. An annular wall extending from the annular base321and parallel to the to second inner cylindrical shell32defines the first chamber33in the annular base321, and defines the second chamber34between the shell32and the annular wall. The grinding assembly70is disposed in the first chamber33, and the control circuit board60and the one or more battery50are disposed in the second chamber34. The grinding assembly70in the first chamber33is connected to the driving assembly20. As shown inFIGS.3and4, the first chamber33is disposed in a center of the grinding cartridge30, and the second chamber34is disposed around the first chamber33. That is, the grinding assembly70is disposed in the first chamber33in the center, and the control circuit board60and the one or more battery50is disposed in the second chamber34around the first chamber33. Specifically, the second chamber34is an annular space provided around the second chamber34.

In this embodiment, the control circuit board60is electrically connected to the one or more battery50. The one or more battery50and the control circuit board60are both disposed in the annular second chamber34. One or more button such as a power button etc. is provided and electrically connected to the control circuit board60.

The drive assembly20comprises a motor21arranged longitudinally in the storage chamber10and electrically connected to the control circuit board60. The motor21has an output shaft23extending through the grinding cartridge30and coupled to the grinding assembly70. The drive assembly20may further comprise an existing gear assembly connected to the motor21so that the output shaft23drive a grinding wheel73to rotate at a desired speed. The drive assembly20has a housing22adapted for the motor21. The motor21and the gear assembly are placed in the housing22. The housing22can be fixedly installed to the first inner cylindrical shell31, specifically, the housing22can be fixed on a base311of the first inner cylindrical shell31through screws. The base311can be set at a top open end of the first inner cylindrical shell31, and defines a central through hole therethrough. The output shaft23of the driving assembly20passes through the central through holes of the bases311,321and extending in the first chamber33to be connected with the grinding assembly70.

The grinding assembly70comprises a grinding base71and a grinding wheel73. The grinding base71and the grinding wheel73define a central through hole72,74respectively, the grinding wheel73is rotatably fitted in the central through hole72of the grinding base71. The grinding wheel73rotate so as to grind the coffee bean between the grinding wheel73and the grinding base71. The grinding base71and the grinding wheel73are assembled in the first chamber33. The output shaft23of the driving assembly20passes the central through holes72,74of the grinding base71and the grinding wheel73, and is fixedly connected to the grinding wheel73. The grinding base71is disposed in the first chamber33and against the annular wall within the second cylindrical shell32. The output shaft23has a shape adapted for the central through hole74of the grinding wheel73, for example, the output shaft23is a polygonal axis, and the central through hole74is a polygonal inner hole for the polygonal axis being fixedly fitted therethrough.

An adjustable member80is provided with a threaded hole therethrough, an end of the output shaft23is provided with external (or male) threads; the threaded end of the output shaft23is engaged in the threaded hole of the adjustable member80, so that the output shaft23is fitted in the grinding wheel73with a tightness adjustable. The adjustable member80is placed in the central through hole of the annular cover35and exposed in the powder receptacle400for operating. For example, the adjustable member80is a thread nut assembly, which comprises a screw washer81with a polygonal inner hole, an adjustment ring82, a cylindrical screw threaded column83with an internal thread hole therethrough, and a locking dome (metal dome)84in a shape of an open ring. Where the screw washer81is disposed at a rear end of the grinding wheel73. The adjustment ring83has a central through hole and operating protrusions, and rests on the screw washer81. The cylindrical screw threaded column83is tightly fitted in the central holes of the screw washer81and the adjustment ring82. The locking dome84is fitted in the internal thread hole of the column84, and locks the threaded end of the output shaft23. The output shaft23passes through the through hole of the grinding wheel73, the screw washer81and the cylindrical screw threaded column84, and is locked in the internal thread hole. The user can hold the protrusion to rotate the adjustable member80for tightening or loosening the connection between output shaft23and the grinding wheel73.

The output shaft23of the motor21passes through the central through holes of the first and second inner shell31,32, the grinding base71and the grinding wheel73in the grinding cartridge30, and passes through the central through holes of the adjustable member80(specifically the screw washer81and the cylindrical screw threaded column83), and the threaded end of the output shaft23is engaged in and locked by the thread nut assembly.

The powder receptacle40is removable or opened and connected to a rear end of the grinding cartridge30, the coffee powder from the grinding assembly70can drop into the powder receptacle40through the central hole of the cover35of the grinding cartridge30. The powder receptacle41includes a housing41, which can be connected and installed with the outer cylindrical shell3of the grinding cartridge30through a snap or screw fit.

The cylindrical shell1can be made of transparent material, which makes it easier to observe the remaining coffee beans. The powder receptacle40may be made of transparent material too, so as to observe the amount of coffee powder.

In this embodiment, the driving assembly20is longitudinally placed in the center of the storage chamber10, and the bean storage space comprises a space surrounding the driving assembly20. When the driving assembly20is placed in the center of the storage chamber10, it can connect and drive the grinding assembly70more directly, reducing some parts required for power transmission, making the structure more compact. The driving assembly20and the grinding assembly70take up less space and has higher space utilization. The storage cover11can directly cooperate with the cylindrical shell1in a buckle/snap or thread manner. When adding coffee beans, easily remove the storage cover11. There is still the bean storage space between the storage cover11and the driving assembly20. That is, the space surrounding and above the driving assembly20can be used as the bean storage space, and the space is fully utilized.

The coffee grinder of the present invention disposes the driving assembly20in the storage chamber10, and its output shaft can be directly connected to the grinding assembly70in the grinding cartridge30. The driving assembly20can be highly compacted and only takes up a small space, so the other larger spaces in the storage chamber10can be fully utilized to place coffee beans, which can maximize the use of space, and the bean storage space of the grinder of the present invention is several times larger than that of common grinders of the same size. Moreover, when feeding coffee beans, only need to open the storage cover11of storage chamber10to easily put the coffee beans in. There is no need to remove and reinstall a large and bulky main body with the control assembly and the grinding assembly like common grinders. The main chamber can be removed and reinstalled, the coffee grinder of the present invention can be added bean simpler and easier. The present invention uses the annular space surrounding the grinding assembly70to place the control circuit board60and batteries50, which make full use of the remaining space around the grinding assembly, thereby maximize space utilization.

The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description simple, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features It is considered to be the range described in this specification.

The above examples only represent several embodiments of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are specific and detailed, but should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several modifications and improvements can also be made, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention should be subject to the appended claims.