Beverage Temperature Adjustment Chamber for On-Demand Serving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vending machines and coolers lack flexibility in serving temperatures, often requiring extended time to reach ready-to-serve temperatures, consuming excessive energy, and failing to accommodate individual consumer preferences for hot or cold beverages.
Innovation Solution
A temperature adjustment method and system that allows consumers to select desired product temperatures using a temperature adjust device with a circulation mechanism for liquids or gases, combined with ultrasound agitation and biometric feedback, enabling rapid temperature adjustment while minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire inventory of products is cooled or heated to ready-to-serve temperature, then all products are available for immediate consumption, but the process takes an extended period of time and consumes excessive energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the product inventory into two segments: products stored at ambient temperature and products requiring temperature adjustment. Only individually selected products undergo temperature adjustment in the temperature adjustment chamber, rather than cooling or heating the entire inventory. This segmentation enables rapid service without the time penalty of adjusting all products.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary temperature adjustment of individual products before they are dispensed to consumers. Products are pre-cooled or pre-heated in the temperature adjustment chamber based on consumer selection, so they are ready for immediate consumption without requiring advance preparation of the entire inventory.
2Ease of operation
If the entire inventory of products is cooled or heated to ready-to-serve temperature, then all products are available for immediate consumption, but excessive energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature control function so that only individually selected products undergo temperature adjustment, rather than maintaining the entire inventory at controlled temperatures. This dramatically reduces energy consumption while still providing ready-to-serve products when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows products to be stored at ambient temperature without active cooling or heating, and only applies temperature adjustment when a consumer selects a product. This self-service approach eliminates continuous energy consumption associated with maintaining inventory temperature.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hot or cold zones are maintained in the vending machine, then temperature flexibility is provided, but the temperature pull down process remains lengthy and energy consumption continues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic temperature adjustment system where the temperature control is activated only when a consumer selects a product and specifies a temperature preference. The system dynamically adjusts between ambient storage mode and active temperature adjustment mode, providing temperature flexibility without continuous energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of temperature control based on demand. Instead of maintaining constant hot or cold zones, the system adjusts temperature parameters only when needed, switching between ambient temperature storage and active heating/cooling based on consumer selection.
4Ease of operation
If products are stored at high or low temperatures for extended periods, then ready-to-serve temperature is maintained, but product quality degrades prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary temperature adjustment of individual products immediately before dispensing, rather than maintaining products at extreme temperatures for extended periods. This preserves product quality by limiting exposure to extreme temperatures to only the necessary minimum time.
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
Enables quick and energy-efficient temperature adjustment of products to consumer-preferred levels, reducing energy usage and maintaining product quality by allowing precise temperature control and simultaneous handling of both hot and cold beverages.
Implementation Method 1
circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature
Implementation Method 2
agitating the product by using ultrasound or high frequency signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method of adjusting temperatures of products to a desired product temperature. The method may include enabling the selection of a product, enabling the selection of the desired product temperature, enabling the placement of the product into a temperature adjust device, circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature, determining when the desired product temperature has been obtained, and ceasing circulation of the liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device.