# US 11,304,564 B2 · Bean grinding apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,564 B2 - Document ID: US11304564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/610,013 - Filed: 2018-05-15 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-16 - Assignees: Nicholson Design Consultants Limited - Applicants: Nicholson Design Consultants Limited - Inventors: Martin Nicholson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304564B2 ## CPC - A47J 42/40: relating to discharge, receiving container or the like; Bag clamps, e.g. with means for actuating electric switches - A47J 42/36: mechanically driven - A47J 42/38: Parts or details - A47J 42/46: Driving mechanisms; Coupling to drives - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A bean grinding apparatus including a body; grinding burrs mounted in the body, the burrs including a non-driven burr and a rotationally driven burr, the rotationally driven burr having a rotational axis about which it rotates; a drive motor operatively coupled to the rotationally driven burr; a grounds flow path defined within the body; and an exit spout, the exit spout having an inlet in communication with the grounds flow path and an outlet, wherein the exit spout defines a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the exit spout is angled with respect to the rotational axis of the driven burr. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bean grinding apparatus comprising: a body; grinding burrs mounted in the body, the burrs comprising a non-driven burr and a rotationally driven burr, the rotationally driven burr having a rotational axis about which it rotates, the rotationally driven burr being an axially restrained inner burr, and the non-driven burr being a complementary, rotationally restrained and axially moveable outer burr; an outer burr support which defines a recess within which the outer burr is located; an adjustment mechanism for axially moving the outer burr towards or away from the inner burr, the adjustment mechanism counteracting a thrust exerted on the outer burr away from the inner burr that is generated during a grinding process, the adjustment mechanism including a biasing member which biases the outer burr away from the inner burr; a drive motor operatively coupled to the rotationally driven burr; a grounds flow path defined within the body; and an exit spout, the exit spout having an inlet in communication with the grounds flow path and an outlet; wherein the exit spout defines a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the exit spout is angled with respect to the rotational axis of the driven burr; wherein both the rotational axis and the longitudinal axis of the exit spout are angled with respect to a vertical plane; wherein the apparatus further includes a grounds directing element located below the burrs; and wherein the grounds directing element includes one or more fingers which sweep the grounds into the grounds flow path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotational axis and the longitudinal axis of the exit spout form an inverted V. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-driven burr is a stationary burr. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle defined between the rotational axis and the longitudinal axis of the spout is from 10 degrees to 45 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotational axis intersects with the longitudinal axis of the exit spout, and the point of intersection is located within the body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus defines a cavity below the burrs and the grounds directing element is located within the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the apparatus further includes a base element; and the body of the apparatus is coupled to one end of the base element and an opposite end of the base element defines a grounds collector aperture and the grounds collector aperture is located vertically below the exit spout outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the inner burr is carried by a shaft; a bearing journals the shaft for rotation about the rotational axis; the outer burr support supports the outer burr; and the bearing is arranged concentrically with respect to the recess, such that the inner burr is located concentrically with respect to the outer burr. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer burr support is defined by or carried by the body, such that the outer burr support is fixed relative to the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the apparatus further includes a bearing support plate located within the recess; and the bearing is carried by the bearing support plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bearing is a combined journal and thrust bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a base element; and a grounds collector platform located on the base element, wherein the grounds collector platform is located below the outlet of the exit spout, defines a grounds collector receiving portion, and is formed from wood. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir defined by a reservoir body, wherein the reservoir is in communication with the grinding burrs; and a cover hingedly coupled to the reservoir body, the cover having a closed configuration in which the reservoir is covered by the cover and access to the reservoir is prevented, and an open configuration in which access to the reservoir is permitted; wherein the drive motor is an electric motor and includes an immobilising switch having an operating position which permits the operation of the motor, and an immobilised position in which operation of the motor is prevented; wherein the cover includes a switch engagement element; and wherein the switch engagement element positions the immobilising switch in the operating position when the cover is in its closed configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lid is transparent. ### Claim 15 The bean grinding apparatus comprising: a body; grinding burrs mounted in the body, the burrs comprising a non-driven burr and a rotationally driven burr, the rotationally driven burr having a rotational axis about which it rotates; a drive motor operatively coupled to the rotationally driven burr; a grounds flow path defined within the body; and an exit spout, the exit spout having an inlet in communication with the grounds flow path and an outlet, wherein the exit spout defines a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the exit spout is angled with respect to the rotational axis of the driven burr; wherein the rotationally driven burr is an axially restrained inner grinding burr; wherein the non-driven burr is a complementary, rotationally restrained and axially moveable outer grinding burr; wherein the apparatus further includes an outer burr support which defines a recess within which the outer burr is located; wherein an adjustment mechanism for axially moving the outer burr towards or away from the inner burr; wherein the adjustment mechanism counteracts the thrust exerted on the outer burr away from the inner burr that is generated during a grinding process; and wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a biasing member which biases the outer burr away from the inner burr. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded element carried by the outer burr support and a complementary threaded element which is arranged to bear directly or indirectly upon the outer burr to urge it towards or away from the inner burr. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: a complementary threaded element carries an angularly adjustable setting ring; and the complementary threaded element and the angularly adjustable setting ring have an indent and detent arrangement for maintaining the position of the angularly adjustable setting ring relative to the complimentary threaded element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angularly adjustable setting ring is rotatable relative to the complementary threaded element and is rotatable with the complementary threaded element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a reservoir defined by a reservoir body, wherein the reservoir is in communication with the grinding burrs; and a cover hingedly coupled to the reservoir body, the cover having a closed configuration in which the reservoir is covered by the cover and access to the reservoir is prevented, and an open configuration in which access to the reservoir is permitted; wherein the drive motor is an electric motor and includes an immobilising switch having an operating position which permits the operation of the motor, and an immobilised position in which operation of the motor is prevented; wherein the cover includes a switch engagement element; and wherein the switch engagement element positions the immobilising switch in the operating position when the cover is in its closed configuration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the immobilising switch is biased to its immobilised position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the immobilising switch interrupts power to the electric motor when in its immobilised position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the switch engagement element comprises a projecting rod and the immobilising switch defines an apertures which is sized and configured to receive therein the projecting rod. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reservoir includes an opening and the cover covers the entirety of the reservoir opening when in its closed configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the cover is transparent. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the cover and the reservoir body includes a latch configured to releasably retain the cover in its closed configuration. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the latch is a magnetic latch. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a manual controller; and the cover further covers the manual controller when in its closed configuration. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The bean grinding apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a base element; and a grounds collector platform located on the base element; wherein the grounds collector platform is located below the outlet of the exit spout, defines a grounds collector receiving portion, and is formed from wood.