US 12,433,450 B2
Coffee bean grinder
Andrea Gennai, Milan (IT)
Assigned to Hemro International AG, Bachenbülach (CH)
Appl. No. 17/920,236
Filed by Hemro International AG, Bachenbülach (CH)
PCT Filed Apr. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/059528
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 20, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/213844, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 00469/20 (CH), filed on Apr. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0157483 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. A47J 42/44 (2006.01); A23F 5/08 (2006.01); A47J 42/40 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 42/44 (2013.01) [A23F 5/08 (2013.01); A47J 42/40 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coffee bean grinder comprising at least one grinder module, at least one supply of coffee beans as well as a ground coffee dispensing area with a bracket, onto which are porta filter to be filled with ground coffee is put for the process of dispensing ground coffee into said porta filter, wherein the coffee bean grinder comprises a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of a porta filter on said bracket, and wherein said proximity sensor is at least indirectly coupled to a grinder control unit,
wherein said proximity sensor is a contactless proximity sensor;
wherein said contactless proximity sensor is located at a rear wall portion of the ground coffee dispensing area, or is incorporated into said bracket, or is located above the porta filter,
wherein said contactless proximity sensor is a contactless proximity sensor for detecting metal objects and is a contactless proximity sensor generating a magnetic field, sensing the perturbation of said magnetic field upon entry of at least part of the porta filter into said magnetic field, and
wherein the contactless proximity sensor is able to detect different types of porta filter and/or the way of and appropriateness of positioning of the porta filter and to trigger a sensing signal allowing the grinder control unit to distinguish these different types and to use that distinction for control purposes or to issue a warning signal in case of improper positioning or improper loading or improper type of porta filter.