Frozen Food Vending Machine with Sensor-Based Container Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frozen food product vending machines lack efficient automation for dispensing different frozen food products and accurately determining container sizes, leading to potential overfilling or underfilling of frozen food products.
Innovation Solution
An automatic frozen food product vending machine with multiple freezer barrels, spigots, and a movable platform that uses presence sensors and a processing circuit to detect container presence and size based on elapsed time or stepper motor steps, ensuring accurate dispensing of frozen food products into containers of varying sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated dispensing system is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects container presence using sensors, determines container size based on elapsed time measurements, and dispenses the appropriate amount of frozen food product without human intervention. The processing circuit autonomously controls the movable platform position and spigot operation, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with electronic sensing and control systems. Presence sensors detect container placement, and the processing circuit uses elapsed time measurements to determine container size, substituting human judgment and manual measurement with automated electronic detection and control mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If container size detection is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual container size measurement with an electronic timing system. The processing circuit measures the elapsed time for the movable platform to reach a reference position, using this time measurement to determine container size. This substitutes complex physical measurement devices with a simple temporal measurement approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces elapsed time as an intermediary parameter to infer container size. Rather than directly measuring container dimensions, the system measures the time taken for the platform to move to a reference position, using this temporal intermediary to indirectly and accurately determine container size without complex direct measurement apparatus.
3Loss of substance
If accurate dispensing control is implemented, then loss of substance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses presence sensors to detect container presence and platform position, feeding this information back to the processing circuit. The circuit adjusts the dispensing operation based on this feedback, determining the appropriate amount of product to dispense based on detected container characteristics, thereby preventing both overfilling and underfilling through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines container size and required dispensing amount before the actual dispensing operation begins. By measuring elapsed time and detecting container presence in advance, the processing circuit pre-calculates the appropriate dispensing parameters, ensuring accurate product portioning from the start and preventing waste from incorrect dispensing amounts.
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 machine efficiently dispenses the correct amount of frozen food products into containers of different sizes, preventing overfilling and underfilling by determining container size through elapsed time or stepper motor steps, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a container presence sensor configured to detect the presence of a container on the movable platform
Implementation Method 2
a first presence sensor located below the first spigot, the first presence sensor configured to detect the container on the movable platform when the movable platform is in the first fill position
Implementation Method 3
Air and the liquid are drawn into a freezing chamber where they are mixed and cooled to form the aerated frozen product
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic frozen food product vending machine includes a first freezer barrel configured to produce a first frozen food product, a first spigot fluidly connected to the first freezer barrel, the first spigot for dispensing the first frozen food product, a second freezer barrel configured to produce a second frozen food product, a second spigot fluidly connected to the second freezer barrel, the second spigot for dispensing the second frozen food product, a third spigot fluidly connected to both the first freezer barrel and the second freezer barrel, the third spigot for dispensing a mixture of the first and second frozen food products, and a movable platform for supporting a container to receive frozen food product, the movable container movable among a home position, a first fill position below the first spigot, a second fill position below the second spigot, and a third fill position below the third spigot.