Frozen Beverage Dispenser Portion Control Using Viscosity Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frozen beverage and soft-serve ice cream machines lack automatic viscosity control, leading to inconsistent product quality due to manual setting adjustments and environmental changes, making it difficult to reliably dispense exact portion volumes.
Innovation Solution
A portion control system with a mixing cylinder, auger motor, and control system that includes a microcontroller, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and motor sensor to automatically determine and maintain the viscosity of the product by interpolating dispense conditions and adjusting the refrigeration system based on amperage draw or torque of the auger motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual control features (temperature, spring tension) are used for product freeze-up control, then the machine can operate with simple control mechanisms, but product viscosity and consistency vary widely leading to poor product quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic viscosity control by monitoring product temperature and adjusting refrigeration system operation accordingly. Temperature sensors provide continuous feedback to the control system, which modulates the refrigeration cycle to maintain product within optimal viscosity ranges, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while ensuring consistent quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of refrigeration parameters based on real-time product temperature measurements. The control system automatically modulates compressor operation and refrigerant flow to maintain desired product consistency without requiring operator intervention, thereby improving reliability while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple
2Device complexity
If manual adjustment of machine settings is used to compensate for ambient temperature or humidity changes, then the basic control system remains simple, but frequent manual intervention is required to maintain product quality
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor product temperature and provide feedback to the control system. The control system automatically adjusts refrigeration parameters in response to environmental changes, eliminating the need for frequent manual adjustments while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical adjustment of control features is replaced with electronic sensing and control. The system uses temperature sensors and electronic control circuits to automatically compensate for ambient conditions, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated electronic control
3Reliability
If automatic viscosity control is implemented using sensors and control systems, then product consistency and portion accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors provide continuous monitoring of product temperature, feeding information to the control system which adjusts refrigeration parameters accordingly. This feedback loop ensures accurate portion control and consistent product quality while using a practical level of system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Complex manual control mechanisms are replaced with simpler electronic sensing and control systems. The use of temperature sensors and electronic control circuits provides automatic viscosity control with greater accuracy than mechanical systems, while the overall complexity remains manageable through modern electronic technology
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 system ensures consistent product viscosity and accurate portion control, maintaining the product in a predetermined frozen malleable consistency, thereby improving the reliability and consistency of dispensed volumes.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature sensor is operationally related to the mixing cylinder and measures a product temperature of the food product inside the mixing cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The pressure sensor is operationally related to the mixing cylinder and measures pressure inside the mixing cylinder
Implementation Method 3
The motor sensor is operationally related to the auger motor and measures an amperage draw or a torque of the auger motor
Implementation Method 4
The motor sensor is operationally related to the auger motor and measures an amperage draw or a torque of the auger motor
Implementation Method 5
chilling the food product to a predetermined frozen malleable consistency
Implementation Method 6
An auger motor is interconnected with the auger. The auger is positioned inside the mixing cylinder and rotates at an auger motor RPM speed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portion control system for food products dispensed from frozen beverage equipment and soft-serve ice cream equipment. The system, injects a food product into a mixing cylinder and chills the food product to a predetermined frozen malleable consistency. When a portion-controlled dispense amount volume indicating volume of the food product to dispense is received a dispense time is determined based on a dispense amount volume and current values of dispense condition variables. If the auger motor is initially ‘off’ a surge dispense amount volume is first determined and dispensed, the auger motor started, and the remainder dispense time and dispense amount volume are determined and dispensed. If the auger motor is initially ‘on’ a dispense time is determined. Dispense time is determined by interpolating between dispense table records that comprise dispense times, dispense amount volumes, and dispense condition variables.