Custom Flavoring Agent Mixing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing flavoring agents are slow and inflexible, making it difficult for suppliers to quickly adapt to changing market demands and customer needs, as they require substantial time and resources to develop new flavoring agent mixes.
Innovation Solution
A portable apparatus that allows for customized production of flavoring agents, equipped with a retainer for multiple containers, a collecting and dispensing unit, a mixer, a communication unit, and a control unit, enabling users to input desired compositions and produce new flavoring agents efficiently, with features like independent pumping, valve control for cross-contamination prevention, and remote server communication for data management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If flavoring agents are produced on big industrial machines on the supplier's side, then production capacity is high, but adaptation speed to market changes is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flavoring agent production process by separating storage containers from the mixing apparatus. Multiple pre-stored flavoring agent containers are divided and combined in controlled amounts using a dispensing unit and mixer, enabling rapid formulation changes without reconfiguring entire production lines. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity through automated mixing while achieving fast adaptability by simply selecting different pre-stored flavoring agents.
2Manufacturing precision
If new flavoring agent mixes are developed using known means, then production quality is maintained, but development time is substantial
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing multiple flavoring agent containers with different fragrance profiles before production needs arise. The system prepares various flavoring agents in advance and stores them in dedicated containers, so when market demands change, the apparatus can immediately retrieve and mix the required components without time-consuming formulation development. The control unit manages this pre-prepared inventory to maintain consistent quality while dramatically reducing development time.
3Productivity
If customized flavoring agents are produced rapidly, then time-to-market is reduced, but risk of cross-contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dispensing function into a separate, dedicated unit that handles flavoring agent transfer from storage containers to the mixer. This isolated dispensing unit uses controlled mechanisms (such as pumps or valves) to transfer precise amounts of each flavoring agent, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining rapid production speed. The separation of the dispensing unit from both storage and mixing zones creates a controlled interface that minimizes contamination risk during high-speed customized production.
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
Enables rapid and customized production of flavoring agents, reducing time-to-market, improving user intimacy, and enhancing market adaptation by allowing users to create tailored formulas without relying on external suppliers, while also facilitating efficient data-driven services and product iteration.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus comprises a pump for transferring a liquid flavoring agent from one of the containers to the mixer
Implementation Method 2
the mixer mixes the first and second defined amount of flavoring agents inside of the mixer for producing the new flavoring agent
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for customized production of a flavoring agent, the apparatus too, (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprising: a retainer (110, 210, 310, 610) for retaining at least two containers (10), each container (10) comprising a respective flavoring agent; a collecting and dispensing unit, e.g. a manipulator (120, 220, 320), for collecting and dispensing flavoring agents; a mixer (130, 230, 330) for mixing flavoring agents for obtaining a new flavoring agent; a control-unit (140) for controlling at least the collecting and dispensing unit (120, 220, 320) and the mixer (130, 230, 330), and a communication unit for communicating with a remote server (41) and/or remote device 20, wherein the control-unit (140) is configured such that the collecting and dispensing unit (120, 220, 320) collects and dispenses a first defined amount of flavoring agent from a first container (10) to the mixer (130, 230, 330), the collecting and dispensing unit (120, 220, 320) collects and dispenses a second defined amount of flavoring agent from a second container (10) to the mixer (130, 230, 330), and the mixer (130, 230, 330) mixes the first and second defined amount of flavoring agents inside of the mixer (130, 230, 330) for producing the new flavoring agent. The invention further relates to a system with such an apparatus, a corresponding process as well as to a container for such an apparatus, system and process.