Food Processing Machine Smart Contracts for Pay-Per-Use Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Small businesses face high costs in purchasing or leasing machines for producing liquid or semi-liquid food products due to low consumption volumes, making it difficult for them to afford or delay machine acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A machine equipped with a processing container, sensors, and a processing and control unit that utilizes a distributed ledger database and smart contracts to automate financial transactions based on consumption data, allowing for cost reduction and usage by businesses of all sizes, including small ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional machine purchase or leasing models are used, then machine functionality and production capability are provided, but high costs prevent small businesses with low consumption volumes from affording or delaying machine acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pay-per-use model where the machine is not purchased or leased traditionally, but accessed through a distributed ledger system that charges based on actual consumption. This eliminates the need for large upfront investments or long-term commitments, making the machine accessible to small businesses with low consumption volumes. The system uses smart contracts to automatically manage payments and usage rights, effectively creating a 'disposable' or temporary access model rather than permanent ownership.
2Productivity
If machine purchase or leasing is delayed due to cost constraints, then businesses can start trading with limited resources, but production capability and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic pricing and access system where machine usage rights are adjusted based on actual consumption volumes. The distributed ledger and smart contracts enable real-time tracking and billing, allowing businesses to scale their production capability according to their consumption needs without being constrained by fixed lease agreements or purchase commitments. This dynamic model allows small businesses to gradually increase production capability as consumption volumes grow.
3Reliability
If traditional purchase or leasing contracts are used, then machine availability is guaranteed, but transaction complexity and administrative burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service system where the distributed ledger and smart contracts automatically manage machine availability, usage tracking, and payment processing. The system autonomously records consumption data, calculates fees, and manages access rights without requiring manual intervention from manufacturers, lessors, or users. This automation reduces transaction complexity and administrative burden while maintaining reliable machine availability through programmable access control.
4Loss of information
If automated payment systems with distributed ledger are implemented, then transaction transparency and security are improved, but system complexity and implementation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the distributed ledger technology to create a universal platform that simultaneously provides transaction transparency, security, automation, and scalability. The same blockchain infrastructure supports multiple functions including usage tracking, payment processing, access control, and data verification. By using a multi-functional system, the patent reduces the need for separate complex systems for each function, thereby managing overall system complexity while achieving high transaction transparency.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid food products, including: a first processing container for processing a basic liquid or semi-liquid product and defining a processing chamber; a stirrer positioned inside the first processing container; a thermal system including a heat exchanger, associated with the first processing container; at least one sensor, configured to measure an operating parameter of the machine; a processing and control unit, operatively connected to the at least one sensor and including a module for receiving and transmitting data captured by the sensor, wherein the module for receiving and transmitting data is configured to transmit data captured by the sensor to a “smart contract” program.