Beverage vessel support apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing machines face challenges in accurately positioning beverage vessels of varying heights, leading to spillage and difficulties in sensing and controlling beverage dispensing, particularly for automatic or semi-automatic systems.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable beverage vessel support apparatus with multiple detectors and a movable support mechanism that includes a beverage vessel rim detector, a first detector, and a second detector at different vertical positions to ensure accurate vessel detection and positioning across a wide range of vessel sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a height-adjustable beverage vessel support is provided to accommodate a range of vessel heights, then the adaptability to different vessel sizes is improved, but the difficulty of accurately sensing and controlling beverage dispensing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented into multiple detectors positioned at different vertical levels. The first detector monitors at a lower vertical position, the second detector monitors at an intermediate vertical position, and the rim detector monitors at the upper rim level. This segmentation allows each detector to operate independently at its optimal position, resolving the sensing difficulty caused by the wide range of vessel heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-point detection approach to a multi-level vertical detection array. By distributing detectors across different vertical dimensions (z-axis), the system maintains accurate sensing capability across the entire range of vessel heights, converting a one-dimensional sensing problem into a three-dimensional detection network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the beverage vessel support is raised to accommodate taller vessels, then the adaptability is improved, but the first detector may be blocked by the support structure
Solution Approach 1:
The second detector positioned at an intermediate vertical level serves as a mediator detection point. When the support structure blocks the first detector's view during raised positions, the second detector continues to monitor vessel presence at its intermediate level, ensuring continuous detection capability without direct line-of-sight obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the second detector to preliminarily confirm vessel presence before relying on the rim detector for final verification. This preliminary detection at an intermediate level ensures that even if the support blocks lower detectors, the system has already established vessel presence, maintaining reliability throughout the support's range of motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a wide range of support positions is provided, then the adaptability to different vessel heights is improved, but the complexity of the height-adjustment mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support mechanism transitions from a static fixed-position design to a dynamic height-adjustable system. The movable support can be positioned at multiple heights to accommodate different vessel sizes, and this dynamic adjustability is controlled by an actuator that responds to detection signals from the multi-level detector array, optimizing the balance between adaptability and control complexity.
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 solution allows for safe and automatic operation with beverage vessels of varying heights, preventing spillage and ensuring accurate beverage dispensing by verifying vessel presence even when the rim detector is blocked.
Implementation Method 1
a beverage vessel rim detector arranged at a first vertical position and configured to determine whether an uppermost part of a beverage vessel supported by the beverage vessel support is at an appropriate position
Implementation Method 2
a first beverage vessel detector arranged at a second vertical position below the vertical position of the beverage vessel rim detector and configured to determine whether a beverage vessel is present on the beverage vessel support
Implementation Method 3
a second beverage vessel detector arranged at a third vertical position between the vertical positions of the beverage vessel rim detector and the first beverage vessel detector and configured to determine whether a beverage vessel is present on the beverage vessel support
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage dispensing apparatus having a height-adjustable support member for supporting a beverage vessel at a plurality of different support positions. The beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispensing outlet for dispensing a beverage and a movable support member having a top surface for supporting a beverage vessel below the beverage dispensing outlet. The movable support member may include an inner telescoping element and an outer telescoping element. An actuation assembly may be operably coupled to the movable support member to move the movable support member to modify a distance between the top surface of the movable support member and the beverage dispensing outlet. Activation of the actuation assembly may cause both the inner and outer telescoping elements to move simultaneously either towards or away from the beverage dispensing outlet.