Beverage Maker Residual Ingredient Removal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage makers face contamination issues due to residual ingredients and water left unused for extended periods, which can affect the quality and cleanliness of the brewing process.
Innovation Solution
The beverage maker includes a system to request and detect the removal of residual ingredients from the ingredient supplier and water from the water tank after the brewing preparation is complete, using sensors and notifications to ensure timely cleaning and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the beverage maker stores residual ingredients and water for extended periods, then convenience is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of residual ingredients and water levels after brewing completion, and proactively notifies the user through multiple channels (display, sound, external device) before contamination can occur, enabling timely removal of residual materials
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the ingredient supplier and water tank using sensors, provides real-time feedback about residual materials to the user through notifications, and receives confirmation when materials are removed, creating a closed-loop system that prevents contamination
2Productivity
If the system automatically initiates brewing operation, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when the ingredient supplier and water tank are properly prepared (empty or ready), and autonomously initiates the brewing operation without requiring manual user input, enabling the system to serve itself and improve productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage maker may include a fermentation tank having a space to make a beverage therein; an ingredient supplier having a space to contain at least some of ingredients for making the beverage; a water tank configured to contain water to make the beverage; an output interface including at least one of a display or a speaker; and a controller configured to control a beverage making preparation operation and a beverage making operation for making the beverage. When the beverage making preparation operation is completed, the controller may be configured to output a request for removal of a residual ingredient of the ingredient supplier and residual water of the water tank through the output interface.