Liquid Dispensing Machine with Manual Drop Stop for Residue Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing machines face challenges in effectively managing liquid residues, leading to undesired dripping into the dispensing area after or between servings, which requires improved drop management systems to prevent waste and maintain cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing machine with a directing device that can be manually operated by a user via a user-interface member, moving between collecting and dispensing positions without the need for electric motors, ensuring efficient diversion of residual liquids into a service area while allowing for manual operation and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motorized actuation system is used to automatically move the downstream part between positions, then the reliability of stopping liquid dripping is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the motorized actuation system entirely, extracting the complex automatic control mechanism from the beverage machine. The downstream part is no longer automatically moved between positions by a motor, but instead remains in a fixed configuration that inherently directs liquid to the service location, eliminating the need for complex actuation while maintaining reliable liquid management
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid directing system is designed to automatically direct liquid flow to the appropriate location based on the physical configuration of the downstream part and beverage guide, without requiring external motorized control. The system self-regulates liquid direction through its structural design, where gravity and fluid dynamics naturally guide the liquid from the processing position to the service location
2Productivity
If a motorized beverage guide is used to automatically direct liquid, then the productivity of liquid management is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage guide system operates autonomously based on the physical positioning of the downstream part and the natural flow of liquid. The system automatically directs liquid to the service location through its structural configuration, requiring no user intervention or complex operation, thus maintaining high productivity while preserving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed so that the downstream part and beverage guide are positioned to create an optimal liquid flow path where gravity and fluid pressure naturally guide the liquid from the processing position to the service location. This equipotential design eliminates the need for additional energy input or complex user manipulation, achieving efficient automatic liquid direction
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
This solution effectively prevents residual liquids from reaching the dispensing area, enhancing cleanliness and user convenience by eliminating the need for electric actuators and providing a simple, reliable mechanism for managing liquid flow between dispensing and collecting positions.
Implementation Method 1
a directing device (20) which has a dispensing position for directing the dispensable liquid from the delivery module to a dispensing area (6) configured to receive a user-receptacle (60) and a collecting position for directing collectable liquid (5') from the delivery module to the service area (7)
Data Source
AI summary
A machine (1) for dispensing a dispensable liquid (5) has: —a liquid delivery module (10) for delivering the dispensable liquid (5) from a source (50); —a service area (7) for collecting collectable liquid (5′) from the liquid delivery module (10); —a directing device (20) which has a dispensing position for directing the dispensable liquid (5) from the delivery module (10) to a dispensing area (6) configured to receive a user-receptacle (60) and a collecting position for directing collectable liquid (5′) from the delivery module (10) to the service area (7); and —a user-interface member (30) which is configured to be contacted and moved by a user to displace the member (30) from a first member position to a second member position. The user-interface member (30) is configured to exercise a force and/or a torque onto the directing device (20) to move the directing device (20) between the collecting position and the dispensing position when the user-interface member (30) is moved between the first member position and the second member position.