In countries like mine, where separate waste collection is mandatory, used coffee capsules cannot be disposed of as they are but must at least be emptied by separating the powder from the casing.
The Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsules remain sealed even after use and to remove the powder the simplest way is to cut them with a knife, but this is not a very safe system. I have designed various tools to open the capsules, improving them each time until arriving at what I believe to be the least dangerous system: the one which does not allow any contact between the blade and the human during use.
This model is made like a small coffee grinder and when cutting the capsule it is impossible to touch the blades.
Drawer assembly
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Body hinge assembly
For aesthetic reasons I did not use the usual hinges with the central pin (I should have placed them on the outside), but I used a sliding system that can be positioned hidden inside the grinder.
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Crank assembling
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Mounting crank in the body
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Blade group assembly
First, separate four segments with a 9mm cutter blade: these will be the blades that will cut the capsule. Be extremely careful when carrying out this and the following operations, because there is a risk of cutting yourself. Use protective gloves.
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Assembling the blade group in the crank
Keeping the grinder lid open, insert the blade unit all the way into the appropriate hole on the crank thread (in collar if necessary). |
Your capsule cutting coffee grinder is ready!
How does it work?
1. Make sure the blades are fully raised. If they are not, turn the crank counterclockwise until it locks;
2. Place the capsule to be cut in the appropriate space in the drawer;
3. Insert the drawer into the base (be careful not to hurt yourself with the blades);
4. Close the grinder and lock it by turning the drawer knob 90° anti-clockwise;
5. Turn the crank clockwise until you hear the sound of the plastic being cut. If you have any doubts, rotate it until it stops (this means that the blades have reached the bottom of the capsule);
6. Turn the crank counterclockwise until it locks to raise the blades;
7. Unlock the grinder by turning the drawer knob 90° clockwise;
8. Open the grinder, remove the drawer and recycle the capsule by separating it from the coffee powder.
When you have finished, reinsert the drawer, close the grinder and lock it with the drawer knob before putting it away, to avoid touching the blades the next time you take it.
Everything can be rinsed off with tap water. If you want to wash the grinder in the dishwasher, make sure you have printed it with a material resistant to high temperatures!
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