SELF-SERVICE BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE with BEVERAGE PREPARATION MODULE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-service beverage machines struggle to produce high-quality beverages cost-effectively across different locations with varying requirements, as they often require multiple machines and higher maintenance efforts, and the quality of coffee drinks made from powder is not consistently satisfactory.
Innovation Solution
A modular beverage preparation system for self-service machines that includes a water connection, communication interface, control unit, and additional modules for milk, powder, and syrup, allowing for flexible adaptation of drink offerings and quality, with a sealed housing for protection and remote monitoring, enabling efficient operation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If self-service beverage machines use powder mixing to prepare beverages, then cost-effectiveness and variety of drinks are improved, but beverage quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments beverage preparation into separate functional modules: a beverage preparation module with grinder and brewing unit for coffee, and additional modules for milk, powder, and syrup. This allows high-quality coffee preparation through grinding and brewing while maintaining cost-effectiveness through modular design and selective use of powder for non-coffee beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage preparation module is designed as a universal platform that can prepare both high-quality ground coffee beverages and powder-based beverages. The system includes interfaces for connecting additional modules (milk, powder, syrup) that enable versatile beverage preparation across different quality requirements and location categories.
2Adaptability or versatility
If self-service coffee machines are customized for different locations or location categories, then beverage quality and suitability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the coffee machine into a central beverage preparation module and separate additional modules for milk, powder, syrup, and cleaning functions. This modular architecture allows flexible configuration for different location categories without requiring completely different machines, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The beverage preparation module serves as a universal base unit that can be configured for different location categories through optional additional modules. The standardized interfaces enable a single core design to adapt to various requirements (schools, workshops, leisure facilities, museums, office buildings) without increasing fundamental device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If manually operated coffee machines are used to produce high-quality beverages, then beverage quality is improved, but operation and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic cleaning functionality through a dedicated cleaning module that can be connected to the beverage preparation module. The cleaning module autonomously performs maintenance tasks, reducing operation and maintenance effort while preserving the quality capabilities of the ground coffee brewing system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If self-service coffee machines include multiple additional modules for different beverages, then adaptability and beverage variety are improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system organizes beverage preparation components into separate, independently connectable modules (milk module, powder module, syrup module, cleaning module). Each module performs a specific function and can be selectively installed based on location requirements, allowing beverage variety without forcing all components into every machine configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized interfaces on the beverage preparation module enable universal connection of different additional modules. This modular universality allows the system to adapt to various beverage variety requirements across different location categories while maintaining a consistent core architecture, preventing unnecessary complexity in configurations where full versatility is not needed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a beverage preparation module (1) intended for installation in a self-service beverage vending machine (7). According to the invention, a water connection (11) and a preparation device (12) for preparing a beverage by means of water provided at the water connection (11) are provided. Beverage preparation parameters can be transmitted to a control unit (14) via a communication interface (13). The control unit (14) is configured to control the preparation device (12) in order to prepare a beverage based on the beverage preparation parameters. A beverage outlet (15) for discharging the beverage prepared by the preparation device (12) is provided. In one embodiment, at least one additional module interface (16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4) is provided for connecting the control unit (14) to at least one additional module (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4).