Beverage Tower Flow Control Module for Precise Flavor Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensers are limited in their ability to dispense a wide variety of flavor doses and blended beverages, often restricted to either pre-mixed beverages or concentrated flavor shots, lacking flexibility and precision in user input and customization.
Innovation Solution
A beverage tower system with a flow control module and switch module that allows for precise control of beverage additives and water flow rates, enabling the dispensing of various flavor doses and blended beverages based on user input, with a control panel for selecting desired beverages, cup sizes, and flavor shot or blended beverage options, and a memory for storing and programming different ratios and shot sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a beverage dispenser is designed to dispense pre-mixed beverages or concentrated flavor shots, then the device structure is simple, but the versatility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage dispenser is divided into separate functional modules: a flow control module for precise liquid measurement, a switch module for selecting different beverage components, and a nozzle module for dispensing. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple beverage types while keeping each module relatively simple and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser is designed with universal components that can handle both pre-mixed beverages and concentrated flavor shots through the same basic architecture. The flow control module and switch module can accommodate different beverage types by adjusting flow rates and selection sequences, making the device multi-functional without requiring completely separate systems for each beverage type.
2Measurement precision
If manual pumps or squeeze bottles are used for flavor dosing, then the device structure is simple, but the precision and consistency of flavor dosing are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control module incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor and adjust the flow rate of beverage components in real-time. This ensures precise and consistent flavor dosing by compensating for variations in pressure, temperature, or viscosity, maintaining measurement precision even as the system handles different beverage types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical dosing (squeeze bottles, manual pumps) with an automated flow control mechanism that uses controlled fluid dynamics and electronic actuation. This substitution provides precise, repeatable dosing while reducing the mechanical complexity compared to multiple manual dosing devices.
3Reliability
If the dispenser uses multiple separate systems for pre-mixed and concentrated beverages, then each system can be optimized, but the overall device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser merges the functionality of separate pre-mixed and concentrated beverage systems into a single integrated unit. The flow control module and switch module can handle both beverage types through unified flow paths and control logic, reducing the need for duplicate components and simplifying system integration while maintaining reliability for both beverage types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic control elements that can adapt their operation based on the selected beverage type. The switch module and flow control parameters can be dynamically adjusted to optimize performance for either pre-mixed or concentrated beverages, allowing a single system to maintain high reliability across different beverage types without requiring fixed, dedicated hardware for each type.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the dispenser allows extensive user customization of flavor doses and ratios, then the adaptability increases, but the control system complexity and programming requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser includes pre-programmed beverage profiles and default settings that store commonly used flavor combinations and ratios. This preliminary configuration allows users to quickly select from predefined options without complex programming, while still enabling advanced customization when needed. The switch module can recall stored profiles, reducing the perceived complexity for typical users.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements a tiered approach to customization: basic users can access simple on/off switches and preset profiles for common beverages, while advanced users can access more detailed flow rate adjustments and custom ratio programming. This partial implementation of full customization capabilities keeps the control system manageable for most users while maintaining high adaptability for those who need it.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for dispensing flavor doses and beverages. A beverage tower (100) may be provided that has a small footprint and that is capable of dispensing a wide variety of flavor doses and blended beverages. The beverage tower may include a flow control module (310) that controls the flow rate of beverage additives and water through the beverage tower and a switch module (315) that includes a plurality of switches (410) that may be selectively opened and closed to control the flow of beverage additives and water through the beverage tower to a point of dispense. A flavor dose or blended beverage may be dispensed by the beverage tower in accordance with user input that is provided to the beverage tower via a control panel (235). The user input may specify a desired beverage additive, a desired cup size, and an indication of whether a flavor shot or a blended beverage is desired. Additionally, a user may define and program into the memory (605) of the beverage tower the various flavor doses and blended beverages that are capable of being dispensed by the beverage tower.