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 associated with flowmeter usage.
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 efficiency decreases and hysteresis effects, ensuring consistent volume dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flowmeter is used to monitor and feedback the volume of liquid dispensed, then the consistency of the vend volume is improved, but the cost and complexity of the beverage preparation machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump controller implements a feedback mechanism by monitoring the operational history of the pump (number of operations, total operational time) and adjusting the pump operation parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures consistent liquid volume dispensing without requiring a flowmeter, as the controller compensates for pump degradation based on accumulated operational data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by having the pump controller automatically track its own operational history and modify pump operation parameters based on this data. The controller essentially monitors itself and makes real-time adjustments to maintain consistent liquid dispensing volumes without external monitoring devices.
2Productivity
If the pump operates continuously for multiple vends, then productivity is improved, but the dispensed liquid volume becomes less consistent due to pump efficiency degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operation parameters are made dynamic rather than static. The pump controller continuously adjusts pump operation parameters (such as motor speed, valve timing, or pressure settings) based on the real-time operational history stored in memory. This dynamic adjustment compensates for pump degradation that occurs during continuous operation, maintaining consistent liquid volume dispensing across multiple consecutive vends.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the pump based on accumulated operational data. The controller modifies parameters such as pump speed, activation duration, or pressure settings according to the number of previous operations and total operational time, thereby compensating for efficiency degradation and maintaining consistent dispensing volumes during high-productivity continuous operation.
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.