Beverage dispenser with a plurality of dissolution chambers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage preparation apparatuses require frequent dismantling and reassembling of dissolution chambers to accommodate changing consumer demands, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors in associating containers with correct dissolution chambers, resulting in poor beverage quality and increased cleaning time.

Innovation Solution

A beverage preparation system with a main frame supporting a diluent supply system, container area with identification readers, and dissolution chamber area, where each container and chamber is equipped with identification means and can be removably positioned, allowing for easy configuration and alerting operators of incorrect associations through a user interface, enabling quick reconfiguration and reducing operational time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dissolution chambers are frequently dismantled and reassembled to accommodate changing consumer demands, then beverage variety and adaptability are improved, but the time required for reconfiguration and potential for errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage varietyVSAvoidreconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification and verification actions by equipping each dissolution chamber and container with identification means (such as RFID tags, barcodes, or magnetic identifiers). When components are placed in the apparatus, the control system automatically reads and verifies their compatibility before allowing operation, eliminating the need for manual checking and reducing reconfiguration time while preventing errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system provides immediate feedback to the operator through a user interface when there is a mismatch between dissolution chambers and containers. The system detects identification codes, compares them against compatibility rules, and displays error messages or warnings, guiding the operator to correct the configuration quickly without requiring extensive training or knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual checking and verification of container-chamber associations is performed, then beverage quality and prevention of cross contamination are improved, but operational complexity and training requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage qualityVSAvoidoperator training requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-verification by automatically detecting and validating the association between dissolution chambers and containers through embedded identification means. The control system autonomously checks compatibility, prevents incorrect pairings, and guides the operator through the configuration process, eliminating the need for manual verification expertise while ensuring beverage quality and preventing cross-contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of visual inspection and manual verification is replaced with an automated electronic identification and verification system. Sensors and control systems automatically read identification codes, validate associations, and provide feedback, replacing the need for trained operators to manually check container-chamber pairings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dissolution chambers are used to provide beverage variety, then product versatility is improved, but the complexity of dismantling and reassembling operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage choiceVSAvoidreconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The identification system provides a universal solution that works across all dissolution chambers and containers regardless of their specific function or beverage type. The same identification means and verification process applies to all chamber-container pairs, simplifying the reconfiguration process even as the number of chambers and beverage options increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11490760B2Beverage dispenser with a plurality of dissolution chambers

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

The invention concerns a system of: —a beverage preparation apparatus, wherein said apparatus comprises a mainframe (1) supporting a diluent supply (4), at least two container areas (11) with identification means reader device (13), at least two dissolution chamber areas (12), with identification means reader (14), and a user interface (16), and—a multiplicity of containers (2), with identification means (23) identifying the nature of the soluble beverage ingredient the container is designed to store, and—a multiplicity of dissolution chambers (3) with identification means (34) identifying the nature of the soluble beverage ingredient the dissolution chamber is designed to dissolve, wherein the apparatus comprises a control system (18) configured for comparing, for each pair of a container housed in a container area and a dissolution chamber housed in the chamber area positioned under the container area and receiving the soluble beverage ingredient from said container, the identification means (34) of the dissolution chamber and the identification means (23) of the container.