Disposable Mixing Funnel for Clean Carbonated Beverage Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage dispensing devices face issues with contamination due to inadequate cleaning, splatter and mess from breaching additive containers, and excess plastic waste from specialized bottles, while existing methods fail to efficiently mix and dispense mixed beverages.
Innovation Solution
A mixing funnel with a housing and a tray that includes a fluid inlet, sloped fluid passages, and a partition to direct primary fluid flow, along with secondary outlets for additives, reducing splashing and mixing efficiency, and a design that minimizes plastic waste by using standard containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional beverage dispensing devices mix carbonated water and additives in a machine, then beverage mixing is achieved, but contamination occurs over time due to inadequate cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mixing function from a permanent machine component and relocates it to a disposable funnel. The funnel is used once and then discarded, eliminating the contamination risk associated with reusable mixing chambers that require cleaning. This applies the extraction principle by separating the mixing function from the dispensing device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable funnel made of inexpensive material that is designed for single-use. After one mixing operation, the funnel is discarded rather than cleaned and reused, eliminating contamination risks entirely. This directly applies the disposable principle to solve the reliability issue.
2Ease of operation
If devices rely on crushing and puncturing additive containers, then additive access is achieved, but splatter and mess occur resulting in contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel acts as an intermediary device between the additive container and the dispensing system. It provides a controlled interface where additives can be transferred without direct crushing or puncturing, thereby preventing splatter and mess. The funnel's structure guides the flow of additives smoothly into the carbonated water.
3Productivity
If devices use pressurized containers for carbonating water, then beverage carbonation is achieved, but excess plastic waste is created and single beverage production is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel design allows a single device to serve multiple beverages by repeatedly mixing additives with carbonated water. Unlike single-use pressurized containers, the funnel can be used continuously with refillable carbonated water containers, eliminating the need for disposable pressurized bottles and reducing plastic waste while maintaining productivity.
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 funnel effectively mixes carbonated fluids with additives, reduces contamination risks, and minimizes plastic waste by using standard containers, ensuring thorough mixing and efficient beverage dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
A partition can include a fluid outlet path configured to direct the primary fluid from the first and second flow passages to a funnel outlet
Implementation Method 2
The first and second fluid passages can be sloped downward from the funnel inlet to a mixing area and can direct the primary fluid flow to a mixing area adjacent the front wall of the tray
Implementation Method 3
In some embodiments, at least one wicking rib can extend between the inlet and the outlet along an outside of the tray
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing funnel for mixing fluids is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing funnel includes a tray having a fluid inlet arranged to receive a primary fluid flow, and first and second fluid passages configured to receive primary fluid flow from the fluid inlet such that the flow is divided to flow along the first and second fluid passages. The first and second fluid passages can be arranged to direct the primary fluid flow to a mixing area. The tray can further include a fluid outlet arranged to receive the primary fluid flow from the mixing area and to deliver the fluid to a container.