Bakery Product Dispensing Device with Force-Based Inventory Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices for baked goods in sales facilities require manual staff intervention to determine when to refill output compartments, leading to inefficiencies in restocking and potential overstocking or understocking.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing device with a measuring device and force transducer that detects the presence and weight of baked goods on a transport surface, generating signals for automated refilling or manual notification, ensuring timely restocking and inventory management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual staff intervention is used to determine when to refill output compartments, then staff can visually check and refill baked goods, but the process becomes inefficient and prone to human error in determining refilling timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-monitoring of baked goods inventory through force transducers that automatically detect presence and weight, eliminating the need for manual staff intervention in determining refilling timing. The output compartment serves itself by providing accurate inventory data without human assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and decision-making with an automated force-based measurement system. Force transducers mechanically detect the presence and weight of baked goods, converting physical states into electrical signals for automated processing, thereby substituting human sensory and cognitive functions.
2Productivity
If automated feed devices are used to refill output compartments, then refilling speed increases, but the system requires accurate detection of when refilling is needed to avoid overstocking or understocking
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual inventory assessment with force transducers that mechanically measure the weight and presence of baked goods. This provides precise, objective data about inventory levels, enabling the automated feed device to refill at the exact moment needed without overstocking or understocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The force transducers provide continuous feedback about the inventory state in the output compartment. This feedback loop allows the automated feed device to respond precisely to actual inventory conditions, adjusting refilling actions based on real-time weight and presence data to maintain optimal stock levels.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If light barriers are used to detect minimum fill levels, then the system can detect when compartments need refilling, but the detection is less accurate compared to weight-based measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical detection methods with force-based mechanical measurement using force transducers. This substitution provides more accurate measurement of actual baked goods inventory by measuring weight and presence forces, rather than relying on indirect optical signals that may be affected by various environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from optical properties (light blockage) to mechanical properties (force and weight). This parameter change enables more precise measurement of inventory status, as force transducers can detect the actual presence and mass of baked goods rather than just their visual obstruction of light.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables reliable and automated refilling of output compartments, reducing human error and ensuring consistent availability of baked goods, while allowing for remote inventory monitoring and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a force transducer (6) coupled to a measuring surface (7a) in the region of the transport surface (3), which is designed to generate electrical signals that depend on the presence (or absence) and/or the weight of one or more baked goods (15) on the measuring surface (7a)
Implementation Method 2
a strain gauge, which detects and further processes an elastic deformation. The change in resistance that is proportional to the strain makes it possible, in particular, to convert the mass of the item to be weighed
Implementation Method 3
The baked goods located on the transport surface are preferably conveyed into the removal section by sliding, i.e. driven by their own gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a dispensing device (1) for holding, presenting and removing baked bakery products (15), comprising at least one dispensing compartment (2), wherein the at least one dispensing compartment (2) comprises: - a feed section (5), which enables the at least one dispensing compartment (2) to be supplied with bakery products (15), - a removal section (4) for removing the bakery products (15), - a transport surface (3) arranged between the feed section (5) and the removal section (4), on which transport surface (3) the bakery products (15) move from the feed section (5) to the removal section (4), and - a measuring device (7), wherein the bakery products (15) pass the measuring device (7) on their way from the feed section (5) to the removal section (4), wherein the measuring device (7) registers the presence of said bakery products (15) and/or absence of bakery products (15) and generates corresponding electrical signals.