Modular Pump Cooling Device for Multi-Type Liquid Foodstuff Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing systems, particularly fully automatic coffee machines, face challenges in efficiently storing and dispensing refrigerated liquid foodstuffs like milk and cold extracted coffee, requiring separate cooling units and risk contamination due to the need for multiple pump modules handling different types of food.
Innovation Solution
A modular cooling device with interchangeable pump modules, each designed for a specific type of food, featuring quick-release connections for easy installation and cleaning, and a separate cleaning system to prevent cross-contamination, allowing for flexible operation and expansion of drink varieties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pump modules are used to handle different types of liquid foodstuffs, then the versatility of the beverage dispensing system is improved, but the risk of cross-contamination and taste impairment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate pump modules, each dedicated to a specific type of liquid foodstuff (e.g., milk, coffee). This segmentation prevents cross-contamination by ensuring that each pump only handles one type of liquid, thereby maintaining taste integrity while providing versatility through multiple specialized pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling device acts as an intermediary storage system that receives and cools liquid foodstuffs from multiple storage containers. The cooling device distributes the cooled liquids to the appropriate pump modules, serving as a mediator that prevents direct contact between different food types and enables flexible combination of different liquid types without contamination.
2Temperature
If separate cooling units are used for storing liquid foodstuffs, then the refrigeration capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged into a single integrated cooling device that can cool multiple storage containers simultaneously. This unified cooling system provides refrigeration capability for all liquid foodstuffs while reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate cooling units for each container or pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various types of liquid foodstuffs (milk, coffee, etc.) from multiple storage containers. It provides universal cooling capability across different container types and liquid types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cooling units.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pump modules are designed for specific food types only, then the prevention of taste impairment is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to multiple pump modules
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device serves as an intermediary that manages the connection between multiple storage containers and multiple pump modules. It automatically routes the appropriate cooled liquid to the corresponding pump module, eliminating the need for manual intervention and simplifying operation while maintaining the benefit of specialized pumps for each food type.
4Ease of repair
If modular pump modules with quick-release connections are used, then the ease of cleaning and maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is segmented into modular pump modules that can be independently removed and cleaned. Each pump module is a separate unit with quick-release connections, allowing easy detachment for cleaning without disassembling the entire system. This modular segmentation provides ease of maintenance while the standardized design keeps overall complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump modules are designed with dynamic quick-release connections that enable rapid attachment and detachment. This dynamic connection system allows operators to quickly remove and reattach pump modules for cleaning and maintenance, significantly improving ease of repair compared to fixed connections while adding minimal complexity through standardized interfaces.
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
Enables efficient storage and dispensing of multiple liquid food types without taste impairment, extends pump module cleaning cycles, and ensures operational safety and hygiene by preventing food residue spoilage and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a coolable storage space for storing several storage containers with liquid food
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic plug-in connections, each of which is arranged on a back side of the inserted pump module
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
In a cooling device (10) having a coolable storage space (15) for storing a plurality of storage containers (11, 12, 13, 14) having liquid foodstuffs to be made available for dispensing to a beverage dispensing device connected to the cooling device, two or more receiving compartments (21, 22, 23, 24) are provided, each of which receives one pump module (30, 30', 30a, 30a', 30a", 30a'") which is used to pump liquid foodstuff of a foodstuff type allocated to the relevant pump module to a beverage dispensing device connected to the cooling device.