Rotating Ice Portion Compartments for Consistent Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ice handling and dispensing methods in smoothie making are labor-intensive, pose safety hazards, and result in inconsistent ice portions, leading to difficulties in replicating franchised drinks.
Innovation Solution
An ice portion control module with a base and portion control compartments that rotate between fill and dispense positions, using actuators and sensors to accurately measure and dispense a predetermined amount of ice, while preventing water from being dispensed along with the ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual ice handling and estimation methods are used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but ice portion precision and beverage consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ice bin is divided into multiple compartments, each designed to hold a specific predetermined portion of ice (e.g., 1 cup, 2 cups). This segmentation allows the system to provide precise ice portions without complex measurement mechanisms, as each compartment physically defines the desired amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the segmented ice bin with movable partitions) between the ice storage and the dispensing point. This intermediary structure automatically portions the ice without requiring manual measurement or complex electronic controls, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
2Ease of operation
If ice is manually transported from storage to dispensing area, then flexibility in ice storage location is maintained, but safety hazards and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ice storage bin and the dispensing mechanism into a single integrated unit. The ice bin with its compartments is positioned directly at the dispensing location, eliminating the need for separate ice storage areas and manual transport. This combination removes safety hazards associated with handling heavy ice buckets while simplifying the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the ice to serve itself through the designed compartment structure. The movable partitions and gravity-fed design enable ice to automatically move from storage compartments to the dispensing area without human intervention, eliminating manual handling risks while maintaining operational ease.
3Productivity
If ice compartments are continuously rotated for dispensing, then ice portioning speed is improved, but water dispensing along with ice increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic rotation of the ice compartments rather than continuous rotation. The system rotates compartments to the dispensing position, dispenses the ice portion, then returns to the next compartment. This periodic action allows controlled dispensing intervals where water can drain between rotations, preventing water loss while maintaining efficient ice portioning speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary draining of water from the ice compartments before rotation to the dispensing position. By removing excess water in advance, the system ensures that only ice is dispensed when the compartment rotates to the dispensing point, eliminating water loss while maintaining high dispensing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice portion control module includes an ice bin for storing ice. A base in the ice bin has one or more portion control compartments. The one or more portion control compartments has an interior volume to hold a predetermined portion of the ice. An actuator moves the one or more portion control compartments between a fill position wherein the one or more portion control compartments holds the ice, and a dispense position wherein the predetermined portion of the ice is dispensed out of the one or more portion control compartments.