Bottom-Fill Beverage Dispensing With Sensor-Guided Foam Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top-filling beverage dispensing systems require multiple actions, often result in excess foam, and occupy significant space, making them inefficient and cumbersome for use.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispensing system with a housing, valves, and embedded modules that allow bottom-filling, including a user interface and sensors for proper container positioning, and integrated analytics and payment processing, enabling self-service and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If top-filling beverage dispensing systems are used, then beverage can be dispensed, but excess foam is generated and beverage is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional top-filling approach by implementing bottom-filling technology. The beverage container is filled from the bottom upward through a coupler connected to the dispensing system, allowing the beverage to rise into the container without generating excessive foam at the top, thereby reducing beverage waste while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect when a beverage container is properly positioned and initiate the filling process without requiring manual intervention from the pourer. The system self-regulates the filling process, eliminating the need for human coordination and physical contact during operation
2Area of stationary object
If top-filling beverage dispensing systems are used, then beverage can be dispensed, but large counter space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage container is nested within the dispensing system structure during the bottom-filling process. The coupler and filling mechanism are integrated into the existing dispensing unit, allowing the container to be positioned vertically within the system footprint rather than requiring additional horizontal counter space, thus reducing the overall area occupied while maintaining functional complexity
3Ease of operation
If top-filling beverage dispensing systems are used, then beverage can be dispensed, but excessive user attention and coordination are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect when a beverage container is properly positioned and initiate the filling process without requiring manual intervention from the pourer. The system self-regulates the filling process, eliminating the need for human coordination and physical contact during operation, thereby reducing both user attention requirements and overall process time
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors provide real-time feedback to the control system about container position and filling status. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust the filling process, ensuring proper operation without requiring user monitoring or coordination, thus reducing both attention requirements and time loss
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 system reduces foam issues, minimizes user intervention, and optimizes space usage by allowing bottom-filling with integrated sensors and payment processing, enhancing operational efficiency and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid coupled to the plunger shaft and moving the plunger shaft to transition the plunger between an open position and a closed position
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is beverage dispensing system including, in some embodiments, a housing including a dispensing platform, one or more valves at least partially below the dispensing platform, one or more valve-controlling modules respectively disposed in one or more cutouts of the housing, and an embedded system including the one or more valve- controlling modules and a central module communicatively coupled to the one or more valve- controlling modules. Each valve may include a beverage-container coupler extending from the valve through a corresponding opening in the dispensing platform configured to couple with bottom-fillable beverage containers for use with the beverage dispensing system. Each valve- controlling module may include a user-facing touchpad with one or more buttons configured to control a corresponding valve of the one or more valves. The embedded system may be configured for beverage dispensation as well as analytics, communications, payment processing, or a combination thereof related to beverage dispensation.