Fermentation Tank Container Placement Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fermentation and aging apparatuses lack efficient methods to ensure proper insertion of the fermentation container into the tank, leading to potential contamination and suboptimal brewing conditions, especially when users attempt to make beverages without a separate sensor to detect container placement.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an air pump and gas pressure sensor system to determine if the fermentation container is correctly positioned by measuring pressure changes during air injection, allowing for controlled brewing operations and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If no separate sensor is used to detect container placement, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of container position detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fermentation container itself serves as the detection mechanism. When the container is properly inserted into the fermentation tank, it automatically blocks the air passage, creating a pressure difference that the pressure sensor detects. This eliminates the need for separate sensors while ensuring reliable detection of container placement.
Solution Approach 2:
Air is used as an intermediary substance to transmit the position information of the fermentation container to the pressure sensor. The air pressure changes in response to container insertion, providing indirect but reliable detection without requiring direct contact sensors.
2Measurement precision
If air injection is used to detect container placement, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air pump operates periodically rather than continuously, injecting air into the fermentation tank only when needed to detect container placement. This periodic operation maintains high detection precision while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous air injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from pressure sensor readings to control air pump operation. When the pressure difference indicates proper container insertion, the system stops air injection, creating an energy-efficient closed-loop control system that maintains precision while minimizing energy use.
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
This approach ensures accurate detection of container placement, preventing contamination and ensuring optimal brewing conditions by initiating brewing processes only when the container is properly inserted, thus enhancing the brewing process's reliability and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump and a gas pressure sensor may be provided to supply air to a fermentation tank and measure internal pressure of the fermentation tank
Data Source
AI summary
A fermentation and aging apparatus may include a fermentation tank, into which a fermentation container may be put, an object to be fermented being accommodated in the fermentation container, a first channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a first valve, a second channel connected with the fermentation tank and opened and closed by a second valve, a pressure sensor provided in the first channel, an air pump configured to supply air to the fermentation tank, and a controller configured to close the first valve and the second valve based on a beverage making start request, drive the air pump, and detect whether the fermentation container is put into the fermentation tank, based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor.