Control method for a beverage production machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage production machines face challenges in maintaining hygiene due to issues with expired products, as they lack effective identification and monitoring of shelf-life, leading to potential contamination and inefficient cleaning processes.
Innovation Solution
A control method that utilizes RFID technology to associate and monitor the shelf-life of products, preventing the use of expired products by locking the machine into specific operational modes based on the product's shelf-life information, ensuring only fresh products are used and facilitating proper cleaning procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual monitoring of shelf-life is used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but hygiene reliability deteriorates due to human error and oversight
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-monitoring of shelf-life through RFID tags that store preparation dates and shelf-life durations. The control unit automatically calculates expiration dates and manages dispensing restrictions without human intervention, eliminating manual monitoring errors while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring processes with an automated electronic system using RFID technology and a control unit. This substitution eliminates human error in tracking shelf-life while providing reliable automatic monitoring and control of product freshness.
2Reliability
If continuous temperature monitoring is implemented, then product freshness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses RFID tags to provide feedback about product preparation dates and shelf-life status. The control unit receives this information and automatically adjusts dispensing operations accordingly, enabling freshness management without requiring continuous temperature monitoring and reducing energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If RFID monitoring system is added, then shelf-life tracking precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID system serves multiple functions simultaneously: identifying products, tracking preparation dates, calculating shelf-life, and controlling dispensing operations. This multi-functionality achieves precise shelf-life tracking while minimizing the addition of separate components, thereby limiting increases in overall system complexity.
4Reliability
If automatic dispensing restrictions are enforced, then hygiene is improved, but operational efficiency decreases due to mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating shelf-life expiration dates and pre-establishing dispensing restrictions before product expiry occurs. This allows smooth transitions between operational modes without last-minute interruptions, maintaining hygiene while minimizing impact on operational efficiency.
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
This solution enhances hygiene standards by ensuring only fresh products are dispensed, automating shelf-life monitoring, and simplifying the refilling process, thereby maintaining high operational efficiency and hygiene without increasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a RFID reader (4) for wirelessly receiving identification information and shelf-life information from an RFID tag (31)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention discloses a beverage production machine (1, 110), a beverage production method, and a container (30, 122) for a product that is to be filled into a beverage production machine (1, 110). The invention aims to improve the hygiene of beverage production. By wirelessly reading out identification information and shelf-life information from an RFID tag (31, 123) in a container (30, 122) by an RFID reader (4, 121) of a beverage production machine (1, 110) can be ensured that only known products are used for the production of beverages, and only products that have not yet reached their expiration date. The invention further delegates the monitoring of the shelf-life of a product to the beverage production machine (1, 110), thus makes it more convenient to operate, particularly to refill. The invention is further directed to a machine for the production and delivery of products such as ice cream, frozen beverages or granita using a preparation packet (30, 122) associated with this machine in order to obtain the product comprises a product-containing tank (2, 112) which is provided with a tap (3, 115) for delivering the product and which contains an element (5, 131, 113) for cooling the product and a powered mixer element (6, 114) for stirring the product. The machine also comprises a control unit (7, 119) which is provided with means (4, 121) for acquisition of information relating to the shelf life of the product - once the latter has been obtained from the preparation - from information retention means (31, 123) which are associated with a preparation packet (30, 122), the control unit controlling operation of the machine according to said information acquired. A packet (30, 122) and a control method are also described.