Beverage Mixing Chamber with Level-Controlled Refilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing mixed drinks face challenges in maintaining high dosing accuracy with reduced control and mechanical effort, often requiring large buffer tanks and high CO2 gas consumption due to fluctuating filling levels.
Innovation Solution
A method where the metered addition of the additional component to the basic component in the mixing chamber is controlled based on the quantity of the mixed product removed, with level or volume-controlled refilling of the basic component, allowing the mixing chamber to serve as both a mixing space and a reduced-volume buffer tank, combining degassing and carbonization functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large buffer tank is used to maintain continuous operation with fluctuating filling levels, then continuous production is ensured, but the overall size of the mixing system increases and CO2 gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the buffer tank and mixing chamber into a single integrated unit. The mixing chamber serves dual functions as both the mixing space and the buffer storage, eliminating the need for a separate large-volume buffer tank while maintaining continuous production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the mixing space for combining base component and additional component, and simultaneously as the buffer store for maintaining continuous operation during fluctuating demand, thereby reducing the overall system volume
2Reliability
If a CO2 gas cushion is applied to cover the mixed product in the buffer tank, then product stability is maintained, but CO2 gas consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate CO2 gas cushion system from the buffer tank design. By integrating the buffer function into the mixing chamber and implementing level-controlled refilling, the need for an additional CO2 gas cushion layer is removed, reducing CO2 gas consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the mixed product itself to maintain the buffer level through level-controlled refilling from the mixing chamber, eliminating the need for external CO2 gas cushioning to maintain product stability
3Manufacturing precision
If ratio control with continuous volume flow is used for dosing, then dosing accuracy is maintained, but control effort and mechanical effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements level-controlled refilling where the dosing of the additional component is automatically regulated based on the liquid level in the mixing chamber. This feedback mechanism maintains dosing accuracy while reducing the complexity of continuous volume flow control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex continuous mechanical volume flow control with a simpler level-based control system. The dosing is triggered by liquid level changes rather than requiring continuous mechanical flow regulation, reducing control effort and device complexity
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 approach reduces the overall size of the mixing system, minimizes CO2 gas consumption, and enables continuous production with fluctuating quantities, eliminating the need for a separate buffer tank and CO2 gas cushion.
Implementation Method 1
level or volume-controlled tracking or refilling of the at least one basic component to the mixing chamber, in such a way that this tracking or refilling of the at least one basic component reduces the total volume formed by the at least one basic component and the at least one additional component is constant in the mixing space
Implementation Method 2
The functional container 2 or a functional space 2.3 formed in it then serves according to the invention as a combined mixing space and buffer tank
Implementation Method 3
at least partial carbonization of the at least one basic component
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a liquid mixed product from at least one liquid base component and at least one liquid additive, which is added to the base component in a metered manner, wherein the at least one liquid additive is metered into the base component depending on the amount of the mixed product removed from the mixing chamber (2.3).