Method and machine for preparing infant milk formula
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional manual preparation of infant milk formula is time-consuming and poses risks of microbiological contamination due to inadequate hygiene, increasing the risk of serious illness in infants.
Innovation Solution
A machine-implemented method and device that heat-sterilizes water, cools it to drinking temperature, injects it into a capsule containing powdered infant milk formula to form liquid formula, and steam-sterilizes the capsule chamber after use, ensuring safe and hygienic preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual preparation steps are performed repeatedly, then infant milk formula can be prepared, but time consumption increases and hygiene risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-sterilization of the capsule chamber using steam generated from the heated water tank after capsule removal, eliminating the need for manual cleaning and ensuring continuous hygiene without user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical processes of boiling water, cooling it, sterilizing bottles, and mixing powder are replaced by an automated system that controls heating, cooling, water injection, and steam sterilization through electronic components and programmed sequences
2Reliability
If water is heated to sterilisation temperature and maintained for extended time, then sterilisation effectiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank maintains heated water at sterilisation temperature continuously, allowing multiple capsules to be prepared without re-heating, thereby distributing the energy cost across multiple uses and reducing total energy consumption while maintaining sterilisation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating and maintenance temperature parameters based on operational needs, heating water to the required sterilisation temperature and maintaining it only as long as necessary, optimizing the balance between sterilisation effectiveness and energy consumption
3Ease of operation
If automated water injection through capsule is implemented, then preparation convenience improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pump to automatically inject the required amount of heated water through the capsule, eliminating manual pouring and mixing while the capsule design with positioning flanges and pierceable closures simplifies the interaction between the machine and capsule
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 safe, convenient, and hygienic method for preparing infant milk formula, reducing the risk of contamination and streamlining the preparation process while maintaining the sterility of equipment.
Implementation Method 1
heat-sterilising water
Implementation Method 2
cooling the sterilised water
Implementation Method 3
steam-sterilising the capsule chamber after removal of the capsule
Data Source
AI summary
A machine-implemented method, comprising: heat-sterilising water; cooling the sterilised water; removably receiving a capsule containing powdered infant milk formula in a capsule chamber; injecting the cooled, sterilised water into the capsule chamber and through the capsule to form liquid infant milk formula; steam-sterilising the capsule chamber after removal of the capsule.