Manual Drop-Stop Directing Device for Beverage Dispensing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage machines face challenges in preventing undesired dripping of liquid residues into the dispensing area after or between serving processes, requiring effective management of liquid flow and waste collection without relying on electric motors or complex actuation systems.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing machine with a directing device that can be manually operated by a user-interface member, moving between dispensing and collecting positions without electric actuation, ensuring efficient diversion of liquids between a dispensing area and a service area for waste collection, using mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motorized beverage guide or drop collector is used to automatically direct liquid and prevent dripping, then the reliability of preventing residue dripping is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to motors and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the motorized actuation system from the beverage machine, replacing it with a simple manual valve that can be operated by the user. This eliminates motors, sensors, and complex control systems while maintaining the core function of directing liquid flow and preventing dripping into the dispensing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual valve empowers the user to directly control the liquid flow direction without requiring automated systems. The user themselves performs the function of directing liquid to the correct location and stopping flow, making the system self-sufficient without motors or sensors.
2Productivity
If motorized components are added to automatically manage liquid flow and drop collection, then the productivity and automation level are improved, but the loss of energy increases due to motor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The manual valve allows the user to directly control liquid flow without energy-consuming motors. The user performs the automation function manually, eliminating electrical energy consumption while maintaining control over the liquid management process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes motorized components entirely from the liquid management system, extracting the energy consumption element while retaining the functional capability through a simple manual operating mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If a complex motorized system is used for beverage guide and drop collector actuation, then the ease of operation is improved through automatic control, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex control system including motors and sensors, replacing it with a simple manual valve that provides direct user control. This simplifies the device while maintaining operational capability through manual intervention.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
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.