Drink Dispenser Ingredient Supply Sensor and Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drink dispensing systems lack user information about the remaining reserves of compressed gas and syrups, leading to inconsistent beverage quality when supplies run low or are depleted.
Innovation Solution
A drink dispenser system with ingredient supply sensors and indicators that alert users when supplies are low or empty, ensuring timely replenishment and maintaining beverage quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no ingredient supply monitoring is implemented, then the system remains simple and cost-effective, but beverage quality becomes inconsistent when supplies run low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to continuously monitor ingredient supply levels and providing real-time information to the user through indicators. This feedback loop ensures that users are aware of supply status and can replenish ingredients before quality degradation occurs, thereby maintaining consistent beverage quality without requiring complex monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the sensor and indicator components automatically track and display ingredient levels without requiring external intervention or complex processing. This self-service approach maintains simplicity while ensuring reliable quality control through user awareness of supply status.
2Ease of operation
If ingredient supply levels are not monitored, then the system operates with fewer components, but user satisfaction decreases due to undetected empty supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism through sensors and indicators provides users with immediate information about ingredient supply levels, eliminating the loss of information about supply status. This enhances ease of operation by allowing users to conveniently monitor and respond to supply needs without manual checking or guesswork.
3Loss of information
If continuous monitoring of all ingredients is implemented, then supply status is always known, but the system becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential monitoring function needed to prevent supply depletion, using simple sensors and indicators rather than comprehensive continuous monitoring of all parameters. This selective approach maintains supply status awareness while avoiding unnecessary complexity and cost associated with monitoring every aspect of the system.
Data Source
AI summary
A drink dispenser system includes an ingredient supply container including a beverage ingredient, and a source of water. An ingredient supply sensor is operatively associated with the ingredient supply container and configured to sense when the ingredient supply container is empty or nearly empty and generate a signal indicative of the empty or nearly empty state. A handheld dispenser in fluid communication with the ingredient supply container and the source of water includes an indicator. A controller communicates with the ingredient supply sensor and is configured to cause activation of the indicator in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of the empty or nearly empty state.