Custom Beverage Vending With Reusable Containers and Water Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convenience beverage vending machines contribute significantly to environmental waste due to low recycling rates of plastic and aluminum containers, and they consume substantial energy in bottling, transportation, and distribution, primarily for water-based beverages.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine connected to a municipal water source that uses a multi-stage filtration system and allows customers to customize beverages by mixing concentrated ingredients, including syrups and nutritional supplements, into their own reusable containers, with features like GPS-based customer identification, automated cleaning, and parental controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If beverages are sold in plastic bottles and aluminum cans, then convenience beverage vending is enabled, but environmental waste increases due to low recycling rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beverage contents from traditional single-use containers and stores only concentrated ingredients in the vending machine. The bulk water is obtained from a municipal water source at the location, eliminating the need to transport and dispose of large numbers of plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
Solution Approach 2:
Customers use their own reusable containers to receive the prepared beverages. The machine dispenses freshly mixed beverages directly into customer-provided containers, eliminating the need for the vending machine to provide single-use packaging.
2Loss of energy
If beverages are bottled, transported, and distributed in concentrated forms, then energy consumption is reduced, but beverage selection and customization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage system is segmented into separate concentrated ingredient components (flavors, sweeteners, functional ingredients) stored in the machine. These segments can be combined in various ratios and combinations to create different beverage formulations, enabling both energy efficiency and beverage variety.
Solution Approach 2:
The vending machine enables dynamic beverage formulation by allowing real-time mixing of concentrated ingredients in varying proportions. Customers can customize their beverages by selecting different ingredient combinations and ratios, creating an adaptable system that responds to individual preferences while maintaining energy efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If municipal water is used with multi-stage filtration, then energy consumption is reduced and environmental waste is minimized, but water quality must be customized to specific locations
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is configured with specific filtration stages and characteristics tailored to the local municipal water quality at each vending machine location. This localized approach optimizes the filtration process for each area's water characteristics, ensuring safe and palatable beverage preparation while minimizing energy consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If concentrated beverage ingredients are stored in the machine, then beverage customization is enabled, but ingredient freshness and contamination control become critical
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous circulation and cooling of concentrated beverage ingredients to preserve freshness. The refrigeration system operates continuously to keep ingredients at optimal temperatures, and the closed-loop storage containers prevent contamination while enabling beverage customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs intermediate storage containers and delivery mechanisms that isolate the concentrated ingredients from direct environmental exposure. These intermediaries (sealed containers, controlled delivery tubes, and mixing chambers) protect the ingredients from contamination while allowing precise dispensing for customization.
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
Reduces environmental waste by promoting the use of reusable containers and optimizing energy consumption through efficient water use and customizable beverage mixing, while enhancing customer experience with personalized drink options and improved sanitation and safety features.
Implementation Method 1
The municipal water entering the machine goes through a multi-stage filtration process that is custom tailored to the water quality at a specific location site
Implementation Method 2
The vending machine is connected to a municipal water source and drain... This allows the bulk of the beverage contents to be supplied to the machine in a highly concentrated form, and mixed into a custom beverage in the machine
Implementation Method 3
mixed into a custom beverage in the machine
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus describing a convenience beverage vending machine and its operation are described. An embedded computer interface allows consumers to create their own drinks or choose from a menu of drinks. Drinks are dispensed in a re-usable container. The beverages may be made from hot water, cold water or carbonated water that is mixed with various flavors of syrup, sweeteners and nutritional supplements. Identification may be presented and the computer recognizes the consumer and pulls up that consumer's account to determine funds available and previous drink selections and mixtures. The machine may incorporate an automatic cleaning cycle for both the valves and the dispense area.