Automated Beverage Dispensing System for Precise Recipe Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional manual dispensing of beverages at coffee stores results in inconsistent beverage compositions due to imprecise ingredient measurement and inability to handle fractional modifications, leading to variations in customer experiences and deviations from intended flavor profiles.

Innovation Solution

A system for maintaining a recipe catalog and controlling automated dispensing systems to precisely dispense ingredients based on dynamically generated recipes, which account for ingredient modifications using a recipe generation policy, ensuring consistent and customizable beverage production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual dispensing is used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidbeverage composition consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical dispensing with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors, processors, and automated dispensing mechanisms to precisely control ingredient quantities, eliminating human error while maintaining ease of operation through computerized interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation where the automated dispensing machine independently measures and dispenses precise ingredient amounts without human intervention, while the interface allows customers to easily customize their own beverage preferences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If automated dispensing is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage composition consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-functional integrated system where a single automated dispensing machine performs recipe storage, dynamic modification handling, precise measurement, and automated dispensing functions, reducing the need for multiple separate systems while maintaining high precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a centralized recipe manager as an intermediary that communicates between the customer interface and dispensing mechanisms, simplifying the overall system architecture by providing a single point of control that coordinates all dispensing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual recipe recollection is used, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecipe customizationVSAvoidingredient measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human memory-based recipe recollection with an electronic database system that stores precise recipe formulations, allowing unlimited customization options while ensuring consistent precise measurement through automated dispensing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors monitor ingredient levels and dispensing quantities in real-time, automatically adjusting measurements to maintain precision while adapting to customer customization requests and ingredient availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230211997A1Method for capturing, analyzing, and dispensing beverage orders

Publication Date: 2023.07.06 STARBUCKS CORPORATION

AI summary

The disclosure generally relates to a system for managing and dynamically generating beverage recipes. The system can obtain an ingredient modifier and can generate a beverage recipe based on the ingredient modifier and a recipe generation policy. The system can cause an automated dispensing system to automatedly dispense a group of ingredients in accordance with the beverage recipe.