Drink-Code Mapping for Accurate Ink-Jet Image Printing on Beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drink printing systems lack the ability to accurately match and print customized images on specific types of drinks across different locations and environments, often resulting in incorrect images being printed on the wrong drinks due to lack of precise drink property data and code management.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an ink-jet printer, a display screen, sensors for acquiring drink property data, a mapped drink-code database, and analysis circuitry to compute a drink-match parameter, allowing for user-specified target images to be printed on the correct drink type by matching current drink properties with target drink properties, and dynamically managing drink codes based on user location and drink type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a generic drink printing system is used without precise drink property data, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to incorrect images being printed on wrong drinks
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting drink properties using sensors and cameras, then autonomously matching drinks to appropriate images and codes without requiring manual intervention or complex user input, thereby achieving high precision without proportionally increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual drink identification and image selection mechanisms with automated optical sensors, cameras, and computer vision algorithms that detect drink properties and retrieve corresponding images from databases, substituting mechanical/manual operations with optical and computational systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If a simple code system is used without location-based management, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates because the same code may refer to different images in different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a spatial dimension to code interpretation by incorporating location data (GPS coordinates, store identifiers, shelf positions) as an additional parameter that modifies code meaning, allowing the same code to reference different images based on geographic or retail location without requiring complex reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The code-image mapping becomes dynamic rather than static, automatically adjusting based on real-time location information retrieved from databases, enabling the system to adapt to different retail environments, stores, and product placements without manual reprogramming
3Reliability
If drink property data is not accurately acquired, then the measurement precision is reduced, but the ease of operation improves, however the reliability deteriorates due to mismatched printing results
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple detection methods (optical sensors, cameras, image recognition algorithms) into a unified drink identification system that cross-validates results through multiple data sources, thereby achieving high reliability in drink property acquisition without requiring any single measurement method to be perfectly precise
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
Ensures accurate and customized image printing on the correct drink type by using drink property data and a drink-match parameter, reducing errors and enhancing user experience in diverse retail environments.
Implementation Method 1
an ink-jet printer to downwardly ink-jet droplets of ink towards the tray to print an image on the drink supported by the tray
Data Source
AI summary
A method and printing device of providing a customized drink and printing on a current drink through an ink-jet printer and computer programs can be configured to perform actions by instructions when executed by data processing apparatus. The printing device includes a mapped drink-code database specifying a map for a plurality of drink-printing codes between, a respective combination of a respective drink-printing-code-specific target image to be printed by the ink-jet printer, respective drink-printing-code-specific target drink property-data describing contents of a respective target-drink and container by database, analysis circuitry for computing a drink-match parameter between, property-data of the current drink sensed by the sensor(s), displaying a drink-property-heterogeneous menu including the plurality of drink-printing codes on the display-screen, receiving a user-selection of one of the drink codes to thereby user-specify, according to the mapped drink-code database, a target-image and target-drink property-data, and a device controller for responding to the user drink-code selection, in accordance with content of the mapped drink-code database, output of the sensor(s) and output of the analysis circuitry.