Portioned Beverage Mixing Control for Precise Ratios and Low Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems face challenges in efficiently producing freshly made beverages with precise ingredient ratios and consistent quality while minimizing labor costs and reducing waste, particularly in environments with rising labor and operating costs.
Innovation Solution
A beverage system comprising a fluid feeder, ingredient feeder, mixing chamber, dispenser, and controller that autonomously produces beverages in portions, ensuring precise ingredient application and consistent mixing, with features like overflow prevention and automated cleaning to reduce waste and labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated beverage preparation systems are used to reduce labor costs, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage preparation system is divided into separate functional modules: a ingredient dispenser for dispensing concentrated beverage ingredients, a fluid dispenser for dispensing water or other fluids, and a mixing chamber for combining them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve automated beverage preparation, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity increase.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise ingredient ratios are maintained for consistent quality, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor the dispensing process in real-time. The ingredient dispenser and fluid dispenser are controlled to maintain precise ratio relationships, with feedback loops that adjust dispensing amounts to ensure consistent beverage quality. This feedback mechanism enables high manufacturing precision without requiring overly complex manual intervention.
3Loss of substance
If portioned beverage production is implemented to reduce waste, then loss of substance decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures beverage recipes with specific ingredient-to-fluid ratios stored in memory. Before dispensing, the controller retrieves the appropriate recipe and pre-calculates the required amounts of concentrated ingredient and fluid. This preliminary action ensures that only the necessary amounts are dispensed, minimizing waste while avoiding the need for complex real-time portion adjustment mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If automated cleaning cycles are integrated to reduce labor, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage preparation system includes an integrated cleaning mechanism that automatically cleans the mixing chamber and dispensing components after use. The system performs self-cleaning cycles without requiring manual disassembly or intervention, thereby improving ease of operation. The cleaning function is built into the existing system architecture, minimizing the increase in overall device complexity while achieving automated maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for beverage preparation in portions. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a beverage system including: a fluid feeder configured to discharge a fluid; an ingredient feeder configured to discharge one or more ingredients; a mixing chamber having a dispensing opening, the mixing chamber configured to receive the fluid and the one or more ingredients; a dispenser configured to control dispensing from the mixing chamber via the dispensing opening; and a controller or control circuit programmed to perform operations including: receiving from a user a selection for a beverage; and producing the beverage automatically in portions.