Premixing Chamber for Dispensing Low-Solubility Beverage Ingredients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage dispensing systems struggle to accommodate low solubility ingredients such as highly viscous fluids and solids, which can precipitate, change viscosity, or become microbiologically unstable, while maintaining good mixing and ease of cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispensing system with a low solubility ingredient premixing system that includes a storage chamber, mixing chamber, and mixing devices, such as static or mechanical mixers, along with heating and cooling mechanisms to stabilize and mix these ingredients before dispensing, ensuring proper viscosity and particulate size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If low solubility ingredients are dispensed directly in current post-mix systems, then the system can accommodate more ingredient types, but the ingredients will precipitate, change viscosity, or become microbiologically unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing of low solubility ingredients with water in a dedicated mixing chamber before dispensing. This pre-mixing action dissolves the ingredients and creates a stable solution that prevents precipitation and maintains microbiological stability during storage and dispensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mixing chamber and mixing mechanism between the ingredient storage and dispensing components. This intermediary system acts as a mediator that transforms insoluble ingredients into soluble mixtures, enabling the main dispensing system to handle diverse ingredient types without direct exposure to undissolved materials.
2Reliability
If low solubility ingredients are pre-mixed with water, then ingredient stability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the beverage dispensing function into distinct modules: a low solubility ingredient mixing system with dedicated mixing chambers and mechanisms, and the main dispensing system. This segmentation isolates the complexity to only the necessary component while keeping the rest of the system simple and easy to maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber and mechanism are designed to accommodate multiple types of low solubility ingredients through universal interfaces and adjustable parameters. This multi-functionality allows a single mixing system to handle various ingredient types without requiring separate dedicated systems for each ingredient.
3Device complexity
If traditional mixing methods are used for low solubility ingredients, then the system structure remains simple, but mixing quality and cleaning efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical mixing methods with alternative mixing mechanisms such as ultrasonic vibration, acoustic cavitation, or electromagnetic fields. These non-mechanical or reduced-mechanical systems achieve superior mixing quality for low solubility ingredients while minimizing mechanical wear and simplifying cleaning requirements.
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
The system effectively mixes and dispenses low solubility ingredients, maintaining stability and preventing precipitation, while allowing for customizable beverage options with improved cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
heating and cooling mechanisms to stabilize and mix these ingredients before dispensing
Implementation Method 2
heating and cooling mechanisms to stabilize and mix these ingredients before dispensing
Implementation Method 3
mixing chamber, and mixing devices, such as static or mechanical mixers
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
The present application provides a beverage dispensing system for dispensing beverages with low solubility ingredients. The beverage dispensing system may include a sweetener flow, a first diluent flow, a low solubility ingredient premixing system for mixing a low solubility ingredient with a second diluent flow to create a mixed flow, and a nozzle to mix the sweetener flow, the first diluent flow, and the mixed flow.