360-Degree Beverage Dispenser Drum for Simultaneous Multi-Server Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fountain-type beverage dispensers often require servers to hold beverage receptacles during filling, limiting simultaneous serving capacity and creating interference among multiple servers accessing the dispensers.

Innovation Solution

A dispenser apparatus featuring a drum coupled to a shaft with multiple discharge ports, a supporting platform for receptacles, and a surrounding basin for spill collection, including a water supply line and waste outlet, allowing for efficient and simultaneous filling without server interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple servers access the dispensers simultaneously, then serving capacity increases, but interference among servers occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserving capacityVSAvoidserver interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dispenser is divided into multiple independent discharge ports (at least three) arranged around a central axis, allowing multiple servers to access different ports simultaneously without interfering with each other's operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge ports are arranged in a radial pattern around a central vertical axis, utilizing three-dimensional spatial arrangement to enable simultaneous access from multiple directions, effectively increasing serving capacity while minimizing interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If servers hold receptacles during filling, then filling control is improved, but serving efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling controlVSAvoidserving efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The platform automatically supports the beverage receptacle in the correct position under the discharge port, allowing the system to provide the holding function without requiring the server to manually hold the receptacle, thus improving serving efficiency while maintaining filling control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If multiple discharge ports are added to increase serving capacity, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous serving capacityVSAvoiddispenser structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple discharge ports are integrated into a single drum structure that rotates around a central axis, combining what would otherwise be separate dispensing units into one cohesive apparatus, thereby increasing serving capacity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drum structure serves multiple functions: it holds multiple discharge ports, provides rotational movement for port selection, and supports the platform mechanism, reducing the need for separate components and minimizing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7635069B2Apparatus for distributing a beverage

Publication Date: 2009.12.22 SPEARS DAVID J

AI summary

An apparatus for distributing a beverage includes a dispenser configured to be mounted to a shaft. The shaft is surrounded on a lower portion by a base. The dispenser is arranged having a number of discharge ports mounted in a 360-degree orientation. The discharge port arrangement allows a number of operators to distribute beverage without interfering with each other.