Juice Dispenser Agitation and Segmentation for Mixing Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional juice dispensers have a limited range of products due to storage space constraints and often fail to properly mix ingredients, resulting in an unpleasant taste from undiluted concentrate residue.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispenser system with an ingredient combination chamber, agitation means, and user interface that allows for the selection and mixing of various macro- and micro-ingredients with reconstitution ratios, along with a flush diverter for thorough mixing and cleaning, enabling the creation of multiple beverage options within a reasonable footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional juice dispensers use one-to-one correspondence between concentrate stored and products dispensed, then storage space requirement is reduced, but the range of products offered is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage is segmented into multiple concentrated components (juice concentrate, flavoring, sweetener, diluent) that can be stored separately in small quantities and combined in various ratios to create multiple beverage options, replacing the need for storing complete beverages in large volumes
Solution Approach 2:
A single dispensing system is designed to perform multiple functions by combining different concentrate types in various proportions to produce multiple different beverages, making one machine capable of offering a wide range of products without requiring separate dedicated storage for each beverage type
2Ease of operation
If juice concentrate is dispensed without sufficient agitation, then dispensing simplicity is maintained, but incomplete mixing occurs resulting in unpleasant taste
Solution Approach 1:
A peristaltic pump is employed to provide periodic, rhythmic pumping action that creates natural mixing and agitation of the concentrate with the beverage stream, ensuring complete mixing without requiring complex continuous agitation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles through the peristaltic pump's mechanical compression of flexible tubing to generate mixing action, where the pumping mechanism itself creates the agitation needed for complete mixing as the concentrate is forced through the dispensing system
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
Enables the creation of a wide range of juice-based products with thorough mixing, reducing storage needs and ensuring consistent taste by dynamically agitating and dispensing ingredients in precise ratios, while also facilitating user customization and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
A peristaltic pump is employed to mix the concentrate with the beverage stream
Implementation Method 2
The inlets may include a check valve therein
Data Source
AI summary
The present application describes a product mixing device. The product mixing device includes an ingredient combination chamber and means for agitation positioned about the ingredient combination chamber. The ingredient combination chamber includes a diluent inlet, a number of macro-ingredient inlets, a number of micro-ingredient inlets, and an outlet.