Refrigerated Dispensing Faucet Cooling for Hygienic Portion Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid dispensing systems for dairy and egg products in restaurants face challenges with consistency and safety, as they rely on manual dipping into open vats, leading to inconsistent portion control and potential contamination, and existing sanitizing methods are inefficient and expose equipment to environmental contamination.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated liquid dispenser with a pump, dispensing faucet, and auxiliary cooling circuit that maintains the product at a consistent refrigerated temperature, combined with a clean-in-place sanitizing system that includes a sanitizing connector adapter and a controller for operating in different modes (dispense, wash, rinse, and sanitize) to ensure accurate and safe dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual dipping into open vats is used for portioning, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but portion consistency is poor and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pump to automatically dispense liquid products through a faucet, eliminating the need for manual dipping. The pump self-regulates the flow to provide consistent portions, while the closed system prevents contamination. This transforms a manual process into an automated one that maintains simplicity while improving precision.
2Reliability
If open vats are used for product storage, then the system is simple and accessible, but product safety deteriorates due to contamination and spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a closed vat connected to the pump through tubing, creating a sealed environment that prevents contamination. The flexible connection allows the pump to draw product from the closed vat without exposing it to the environment, maintaining safety while keeping the system simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed system creates a protected environment for the liquid product, isolating it from environmental contaminants. The pump and faucet system operates within this controlled environment, ensuring product safety without requiring complex additional safeguards.
3Reliability
If traditional three-step sink sanitizing is used, then the process is simple and requires minimal equipment, but sanitation effectiveness is reduced due to environmental contamination exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The sanitizing process is extracted from the traditional sink operation and integrated directly into the dispensing system. The faucet and pump components can be sanitized in place without removal, eliminating exposure to environmental contamination during the sanitizing process while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary sanitizing solution that can be introduced through the existing pump and faucet system. This allows sanitation to occur within the closed system without requiring separate sanitizing equipment or exposing components to contaminated environments.
4Reliability
If refrigeration is applied to maintain product safety, then product safety is improved, but energy consumption increases and temperature control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigeration system is merged with the dispensing system, allowing the same cooling mechanism to protect both the storage vat and the dispensing components. This integrated approach reduces overall energy consumption compared to separate refrigeration systems while maintaining product safety throughout the dispensing process.
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 provides consistent and accurate dispensing of refrigerated liquid products while maintaining safety and hygiene, reducing waste and health risks by ensuring all food contact components are kept clean and sanitized efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary cooling circuit configured to direct cool airflow toward the dispensing faucet, the auxiliary cooling circuit having a passageway that is at least partially located within the dispensing tower and the passageway is configured to deliver cool airflow through the passageway onto the dispensing faucet
Implementation Method 2
an insulator device disposed adjacent to the cold maintenance device
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerated liquid dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser has a pump configured for being in fluid communication with a source of a liquid product; a dispensing faucet configured for being in fluid communication with the pump, the dispensing faucet including a cold maintenance device located near the distal end of the dispensing faucet and an insulator device disposed adjacent to the cold maintenance device. The cold maintenance device has a distal end that projects beyond a lower surface of the insulator device. The dispenser also includes a dispensing tower for enclosing the dispensing faucet; and an auxiliary cooling circuit configured to direct cool airflow toward the dispensing faucet, the auxiliary cooling circuit having a passageway that is at least partially located within the dispensing tower and the passageway is configured to deliver cool airflow through the passageway onto the dispensing faucet, to shield the dispensing faucet from ambient temperature, thereby maintaining the dispensing faucet and the passageway at a cool temperature to avoid contamination of the liquid. The dispenser also includes a controller operatively coupled with the pump and the dispensing faucet to control the operation of the refrigerated liquid dispenser.