Common Delivery Pipe for Custom Beverage Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage dispensers are limited in their ability to offer a variety of custom beverages due to the complexity of managing multiple delivery pipes and flavor sources, which restricts the number of drinks available and requires dedicated dispensing heads and frequent servicing.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system utilizing a common delivery pipe that combines highly concentrated micro components with diluents and other components, allowing for the creation of custom beverages through a simplified design that reduces the number of delivery pipes and enhances flexibility in beverage composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate delivery pipes are used for each beverage component, then each component can be delivered reliably to the dispensing nozzle, but the device complexity increases and the number of pipes becomes difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate delivery pipes into a single common delivery pipe that serves all beverage components. Instead of having dedicated pipes for each flavor, acidulant, sweetener, and diluent, the system uses one shared pipe with sequential access, thereby reducing pipe complexity while maintaining reliable component delivery through controlled timing and isolation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The common delivery pipe is designed to perform multiple functions by delivering different beverage components at different times. A single pipe structure replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized pipes, achieving multi-functionality through temporal separation and controlled component introduction.
2Reliability
If a dedicated dispensing head is used for each particular beverage, then beverage dispensing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing head is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can dispense any beverage type by receiving different component combinations. Instead of having separate dedicated heads for each beverage, a single versatile head performs all dispensing functions through controlled mixing of components delivered via the common pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage dispensing function is segmented into component delivery and final mixing stages. Components are delivered separately through the common pipe and then mixed within the dispensing head, allowing the head to handle multiple beverage types without requiring dedicated structures for each.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple flavor sources are located at the counter, then beverage variety is increased, but the ease of operation and servicing frequency increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flavor sources are merged into a single integrated system connected to the common delivery pipe. Instead of having separate dispensing mechanisms for each flavor at the counter, the system combines all flavor sources remotely and delivers them through one shared pathway, reducing the number of service points and simplifying operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The common delivery pipe acts as an intermediary that connects multiple remote flavor sources to the single dispensing head. This intermediary structure allows diverse beverage options to be available while maintaining a simple counter interface with only one dispensing mechanism to service.
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 enables the dispensing of a wide range of beverages with reduced complexity in design and operation, allowing for the creation of custom flavors and reducing cross-contamination risks through auxiliary diluent washing and purging processes.
Implementation Method 1
The flow combiner is configured to combine the first component with the second component to form a first mixture
Implementation Method 2
a common delivery pipe, the common delivery pipe configured to receive the first mixture from the flow combiner
Implementation Method 3
combine the diluent flow with the first mixture to form a second mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure concerns apparatus comprising a first source of a first component, the first component one component for a finished free flowing food product and comprising a highly concentrated micro component. The apparatus includes a second source of a second component, the second component being another component for the finished free flowing food product. The apparatus includes a flow combiner configured to combine the first and second components to form a first mixture. The apparatus further includes a common delivery pipe configured to receive the first mixture from the flow combiner. The apparatus includes a dispenser configured to receive diluent flow from a third source, receive the first mixture from the common delivery pipe, combine the diluent flow with the first mixture to form a second mixture, and dispense the second mixture through a dispensing nozzle, the second mixture including the finished free flowing food product.