Product dispensing system, holder and manufacturing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray cream products are less stable and of lower quality than whipped cream due to the absence of a stabilizing fat network, leading to rapid firmness loss and inconsistent gas content, while automated whipped cream machines are less user-friendly and require frequent cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A product dispensing system with a microfiltration device that integrates a tubular element with gas transmissive pores, allowing for efficient foam formation by separating a product feed-through space from a gas supply space, ensuring stable and consistent foam quality through precise positioning and gas injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spray cream is used for quick dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but product stability deteriorates due to absence of fat network and rapid firmness loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous valve structure with controlled pore sizes to inject gas into the cream product. The porous material allows precise gas injection rates while maintaining product stability, creating fine bubbles that enhance foam quality without compromising the dispensing speed advantage of spray cream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters including gas injection pressure, temperature control, and gas flow rate through the porous valve. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves both rapid dispensing and improved product stability, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and stability.
2Quantity of substance
If nitrous oxide is used for foaming, then gas solubility and foam aeration are improved, but product stability deteriorates due to rapid gas diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The porous valve creates controlled gas injection with specific pore sizes that generate fine, uniform bubbles. This porous structure slows gas diffusion by creating a more stable bubble distribution, maintaining foam quality longer while still achieving high gas content through the soluble nitrous oxide.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous valve acts as an intermediary between the gas supply and the cream product. It mediates the gas injection process by controlling bubble formation and distribution, allowing nitrous oxide to achieve high solubility and aeration while the porous structure prevents rapid diffusion that would otherwise reduce stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If automated whipped cream machines are used for preparation, then product stability is improved through fat network formation, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex operation and frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The spray cream system with porous valve allows the product to self-foam during dispensing through gas injection. This eliminates the need for complex automated whipping mechanisms and frequent cleaning, while the controlled gas injection still achieves sufficient stability through fine bubble formation and fat network development during the dispensing process itself.
4Quantity of substance
If gas injection pressure is increased to improve foam quality, then gas content is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inconsistent gas distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The porous valve provides uniform gas distribution through its controlled pore structure. Even at increased injection pressures, the porous material maintains consistent bubble size and distribution by physically constraining the gas flow through numerous small channels, achieving both high gas content and manufacturing precision simultaneously.
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 achieves stable and consistent foam quality with improved durability and manufacturability, providing a pleasant taste and sensorial experience, while being compact and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a microfiltration device which is provided with a product entrance for supply of product, wherein the microfiltration device is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product during product discharge
Implementation Method 2
a tubular microfiltration element with gas transmissive pores
Implementation Method 3
efficient foam formation by separating a product feed-through space from a gas supply space
Implementation Method 4
allowing for efficient foam formation by separating a product feed-through space from a gas supply space, ensuring stable and consistent foam quality through precise positioning and gas injection
Data Source
AI summary
A product dispensing system, including a holder which contains a product to be dispensed, the holder having a product processing unit for processing and discharging product coming from the holder, wherein the product processing unit (PPU) is provided with a microfiltration device which is provided with a product entrance for supply of product, wherein the microfiltration device is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product during product discharge, wherein the microfiltration device is provided with a housing defining an interior processing space, wherein the processing space is separated by a tubular microfiltration element, having gas transmissive pores, into a gas supply space from a product feed-through channel, wherein the gas supply space is associated with a gas inlet of the housing and the product feed-through channel is associated with a product entrance of the housing, wherein the housing includes an exit for discharge of product provided with gas.