Liquid dispensing machine with compact drop stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage machines face challenges in effectively managing liquid residues during and after dispensing, leading to undesired dripping into the dispensing area, which requires improved drop management systems to minimize waste and facilitate cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing machine with a directing device that has a single outlet for dispensing liquid into a user-receptacle and a single inlet for collecting liquid, allowing for efficient diversion of liquid flow between dispensing and collecting positions, using a user-interface member to manually or mechanically move the directing device between positions without electric motor actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motorized beverage guide is used to automatically direct liquid between serving and waste locations, then liquid diversion reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to motorization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage guide is designed to automatically return to the waste location position using its own weight and gravity when not in use, eliminating the need for motorized actuation. The system serves itself by using gravitational force to reset the guide after liquid dispensing operations, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a counterbalancing mechanism where the beverage guide's position is controlled by balancing gravitational forces. A weight or spring mechanism counteracts gravity to hold the guide in the serving position during operation, and when released, gravity naturally returns the guide to the waste location, replacing complex motorized control with a simpler mechanical balance system
2Productivity
If multiple outlet openings are provided in the beverage guide, then liquid evacuation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple liquid evacuation functions into a single outlet opening in the beverage guide. By strategically positioning this single outlet and designing the guide's geometry, the system achieves effective liquid evacuation without the complexity of multiple openings, maintaining productivity while simplifying the device structure
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 solution provides a simple and reliable mechanism to prevent liquid residues from dripping into the dispensing area, allowing for easy cleaning and minimizing waste by ensuring that liquids are directed either to the dispensing area or a service area for collection, enhancing the operational efficiency of beverage machines.
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 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) and a service area (7) for collecting collectable liquid (5′) from the liquid delivery module (10). The machine further includes a directing device (20) that has a dispensing position for directing said dispensable liquid (5) from the delivery module (10) to a dispensing area (6) and a collecting position for directing collectable liquid (5′) from the delivery module (10) to the service area (7). The directing device (20) has only one evacuation portion (21) from which: —the dispensable liquid (5) is evacuated from the directing device (20) to the dispensing area (6) when the directing device (20) is in the dispensing position; and—the collectable liquid (5′) is evacuated to the service area (7) when the directing device (20) is in the collecting position.