Machine for dispensing an ice beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for dispensing ice beverages are complex, have limited capacity, and require a mains water connection and floor drain access, making them difficult to operate and costly to set up, while the process of producing ice beverages is labor-intensive and takes a long time.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained machine with a blending unit and an ice dispensing unit that includes a portion control device for measuring ice, a storage compartment, and a bendable spout for releasing blended constituents, allowing for efficient and continuous dispensing of ice beverages without the need for an external ice maker or floor drain, using a refrigerated storage compartment and a control unit to manage ice accumulation and blending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If known machines for dispensing ice beverages are used, then ice beverages can be dispensed, but the machine construction is complex and requires mains water connection and floor drain access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for external water connections and floor drains by incorporating a self-contained water reservoir and waste collection system within the machine. The machine stores water internally and collects waste in an internal container, removing dependencies on external infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine serves itself by incorporating internal water storage and waste collection systems. It manages its own water supply and waste elimination without requiring external connections, making it self-sufficient and easier to install in various locations.
2Productivity
If ice beverages are produced using known methods, then the beverage can be served, but the process takes 20-60 minutes and is labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-chilling water and pre-freezing it into ice flakes before the beverage is ordered. The ice maker continuously produces and stores ice flakes in advance, so when a beverage is requested, the ice is already ready for immediate dispensing, reducing preparation time to seconds.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice maker operates continuously to produce ice flakes that are stored in a reservoir. This continuous production ensures that ice is always available when needed, eliminating waiting time and enabling rapid, continuous beverage dispensing without interruption.
3Productivity
If known machines for dispensing ice beverages are used, then ice beverages can be dispensed, but the machine has limited capacity and cannot provide continuous supply of large number of servings
Solution Approach 1:
The machine prepares ice flakes in advance and stores them in a large-capacity reservoir. This preliminary preparation of ice allows the machine to quickly dispense multiple servings in succession without needing to pause for ice production, significantly increasing continuous supply capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice flakes serve multiple functions: they provide the frozen base for beverages, act as a cooling medium, and can be stored in large quantities. The universal design of the ice storage system supports high-volume dispensing operations.
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 provides a continuous supply of ice beverages with reduced complexity and labor, eliminating the need for a mains water connection and floor drain, while efficiently blending and dispensing beverages with minimal waste and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a blending unit for blending the constituents of an ice beverage
Implementation Method 2
a refrigerated storage compartment to store ice
Data Source
AI summary
A machine (1) for dispensing an ice beverage in the form of a pourable homogenous mixture of ground ice, liquid and flavour ingredients such as fruit, vegetables, fruit juice, milk, yoghurt or the like. The machine (1) includes a blending unit (3) for blending the constituents of the ice beverage, and an ice dispensing unit (5) for supplying ice to the blending unit (3). The ice dispensing unit (5) includes a portion control device for measuring a predetermined quantity of ice required for blending. The blending unit (3) includes a bendable spout (41) for selectively releasing blended constituents from the blending unit (3). The ice dispensing unit (5) is advantageously able to dispense accurate portions of ice and does not require connection to an external water line or access to a floor drain. The blending unit (3) is advantageously able to produce and pour an ice beverage without requiring a blending container (43) of the unit (3) to be tilted, turned upside down and shaken.