Material dispensing device for automated beverage preparation apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage preparation machines lack mechanisms to accurately measure the usage amount of liquid materials with higher viscosity, leading to inconsistent beverage volume and taste.
Innovation Solution
An automated beverage preparation apparatus incorporating a pump, damper device, and flowmeter, where the damper device includes a diaphragm and fastening element that buffers liquid material, allowing for accurate measurement of liquid output volume through the flowmeter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional beverage preparation machines are used, then the preparation process is simple, but the liquid volume measurement is inaccurate leading to inconsistent beverage volume and taste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damper device as an intermediary component between the liquid material source and the flowmeter. This damper device includes a buffer chamber that temporarily stores liquid material and a diaphragm that responds to pressure changes. The intermediary damper device stabilizes the liquid flow and pressure, enabling the flowmeter to accurately measure the volume of viscous liquid materials that would otherwise be difficult to measure directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper device serves multiple functions: it acts as a buffer chamber to store liquid material, a pressure regulator through the diaphragm mechanism, and a flow stabilizer for the flowmeter. This multi-functional component addresses the measurement challenge for various viscous liquid materials (honey, syrups, soy milks, nut pulps, fruit juice concentrates) without requiring separate measurement systems for each material type.
2Reliability
If viscous liquid materials are used, then the beverage taste and variety are improved, but the liquid flow measurement becomes difficult leading to volume inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm acts as a mediator that translates the difficult-to-measure viscous liquid flow into a measurable pressure change. The diaphragm responds to pressure changes in the buffer chamber caused by viscous liquid flow, and this mechanical movement can be detected by the fastening element with hollow portion, converting the measurement problem from flow-based to pressure-based detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct flow measurement to pressure-based measurement. The buffer chamber accumulates viscous liquid material, creating pressure changes that are detected by the diaphragm. This parameter change allows accurate measurement of viscous liquids that are difficult to measure using traditional flow measurement methods.
3Productivity
If manual beverage preparation is used, then equipment cost is low, but labor time and training costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The flowmeter provides feedback on the actual volume of liquid material dispensed. This feedback mechanism allows the automated beverage preparation apparatus to monitor and control the amount of each ingredient (honey, syrups, soy milks, nut pulps, fruit juice concentrates, tea-based liquids, milk-based liquids, cooking oils) added to beverages, ensuring consistency and enabling automated operation without extensive training.
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 apparatus ensures consistent liquid volume and taste by accurately measuring and controlling the output of liquid materials, reducing labor and training costs, and improving the efficiency of beverage preparation.
Implementation Method 1
when a volume of the liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward
Implementation Method 2
the pump is arranged to operably pressure liquid material received through the material inlet to push the liquid material to the material outlet
Implementation Method 3
a flowmeter, coupled with the damper device, arranged to operably measure a flow of the liquid material outputted from the damper device
Data Source
AI summary
A material dispensing device, a material output volume detecting device, and a related damper device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus are disclosed. The material output volume detecting device includes: a damper device arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing therethrough; and a flowmeter arranged to operably measure the flow of liquid material outputted from the damper device. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.