Beverage preparation machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage preparation machines face variability in dispensed liquid volume due to pump operational history, leading to inconsistent beverage quality and increased costs from the use of flowmeters for consistency.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine with a pump controller that adjusts operational parameters based on previous pump operations, eliminating the need for a flowmeter by compensating for factors like time elapsed since last use and frequency of operations to maintain consistent volume dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a flowmeter is used to monitor and feedback liquid volume, then dispensing consistency is improved, but machine cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flowmeter from the system entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused complexity and cost increases. Instead of monitoring liquid volume directly with a flowmeter, the system uses pump operational parameters (time, frequency, cycles) to control and predict dispensing volume, eliminating the need for continuous flow monitoring hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical flowmeter measurement system with a control system based on pump operational characteristics. By using the controller to track pump operation time, frequency, and cycle data, the system substitutes direct fluid measurement with indirect calculation based on pump performance metrics, reducing hardware complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a flowmeter is used to monitor liquid volume, then dispensing consistency is improved, but machine cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive flowmeter component from the system, extracting the source of both complexity and cost. The solution relies on the existing pump controller and operational data rather than adding expensive flow monitoring hardware, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining dispensing consistency through predictive algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing pump controller and operational data to achieve volume consistency without requiring external or additional expensive measurement devices. The pump controller leverages its inherent knowledge of pump operation characteristics to predict and control dispensing volume, making the system self-sufficient and cost-effective.
3Ease of operation
If pump operational parameters are kept constant, then operation simplicity is maintained, but dispensed volume consistency deteriorates due to pump operational history
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of pump operation parameters based on operational history. The controller modifies pump operation time, frequency, or cycle characteristics according to accumulated operational data, allowing the system to adapt to pump degradation or changes over time. This dynamic approach maintains volume consistency without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the pump controller to monitor and analyze pump operational history, then adjusting subsequent pump operations accordingly. The controller uses accumulated data from previous pump cycles to predict required adjustments, creating a closed-loop system that maintains dispensing consistency automatically without user intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a beverage preparation machine comprising a housing; a reservoir for containing a liquid, wherein the reservoir is situated within the housing; a dispensing outlet for dispensing the liquid; a pump situated between the reservoir and the dispensing outlet; a user input means situated on an outer surface of the housing; and a pump controller configured to operate the pump for conveying liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing outlet for dispensing the liquid, wherein the input means is capable of communicating with the pump controller in order to initiate an operation of the pump; and the pump controller is configured to operate the pump based on a characteristic of the previous operation of the pump.