Liquid dispenser for dispensing water and a flavored beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensers face challenges in sanitization due to complex water and flavored beverage dispensing systems, with Top-Loading systems struggling with heavy water bottles and Bottom-Loading systems having more components to clean, and none able to efficiently dispense both water and flavored beverages.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispenser design featuring a removable water and flavored beverage dispensing assembly, connected to a single water pump, allowing for easy cleaning and replacement, with a control system to supply flavored beverages at lower pressure, and a pod-based system for single-serving beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Top-Loading water dispenser design is used, then water bottle mounting is simplified, but heavy water bottles are difficult to mount and sanitization is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional Top-Loading design by implementing a Bottom-Loading configuration where the water bottle is positioned at the bottom of the dispenser rather than the top. This inversion allows the bottle to be easily rolled into place and automatically seats itself, eliminating the difficulty of mounting heavy bottles overhead while also simplifying the sanitization process by reducing the number of components above the bottle.
2Ease of operation
If Bottom-Loading water dispenser design is used, then water bottle installation is easier, but more water contact components make sanitization more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dispenser into distinct functional modules: a removable manifold assembly with water contact components, a fixed pump housing, and a bottle storage area. The manifold assembly can be detached as a single unit for sanitization, reducing the complexity of cleaning multiple scattered components. This modular segmentation allows easy reassembly after cleaning while maintaining simple bottle installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dual-function dispenser for water and flavored beverages is implemented, then beverage variety is increased, but system complexity and cleaning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal dispensing system where a single pump and manifold assembly can dispense both water and flavored beverages through interchangeable bottles and a common dispensing interface. The system uses a standardized connection system that accepts different bottle types (water bottles and flavored beverage bottles), allowing one machine to perform multiple functions without requiring separate complex subsystems for each beverage type.
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 design enables effective sanitization and replacement of dispensing components while providing a cost-effective solution for dispensing both water and flavored beverages, such as coffee, at various temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
pumps are typically employed to pump the drinking water to the dispensing location located above the water bottle
Implementation Method 2
The dispensing apparatus may dispense chilled drinking water, hot drinking water and/or ambient temperature drinking water
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing water and a flavored beverage. The dispensing apparatus may dispense chilled drinking water, hot drinking water and/or ambient temperature drinking water. The dispensing apparatus may further dispense a chilled, ambient temperature and/or hot flavored beverage. The flavored beverage may be coffee, tea, hot chocolate or another flavored beverage. The dispensing apparatus may include a replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle stored in a lower portion of the dispensing apparatus or an external source of water. Preferably, the liquid dispensing apparatus dispenses chilled drinking water and hot coffee from a replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle stored in a lower portion of the dispensing apparatus wherein the replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle is stored in an upright orientation, i.e., the discharge port of the replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle is oriented above a bottom of the replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle.