Machine and methods for dispensing nutritional supplements and multi-serving cartridge therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dietary supplements in pill or capsule form are difficult for many individuals to swallow and digest due to their large size and the use of fillers and binding agents, which can reduce the absorption of active ingredients, and there is a lack of accurate dosing control, leading to potential over- or under-dosing.
Innovation Solution
A granulated nutritional supplement dispensing machine that mixes powdered supplements with water in measured doses, using a multi-serving cartridge system with a computer-controlled flow mechanism and optical sensors to ensure precise dosing and easy consumption, reducing the need for fillers and binding agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If dietary supplements are manufactured in pill or capsule form, then they can be produced with acceptable shelf life and structural stability, but they become difficult to swallow and digest, and require fillers and binding agents that reduce active ingredient absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the supplement from solid pill/capsule form to liquid solution form. This transformation eliminates the need for fillers and binding agents, improves swallowability (converting from swallowing large pills to drinking liquid), and enhances absorption while maintaining stability through proper formulation and packaging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful components (fillers and binding agents) from the supplement formulation. By using liquid or softgel encapsulated liquid form, the invention eliminates these unnecessary additives that interfere with absorption, keeping only the active ingredients and essential liquid vehicle
2Quantity of substance
If large pills are used to increase active ingredient content, then the amount of active ingredient increases, but the pills become even more difficult to swallow especially for elderly, children, and those with throat conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical form parameter from large solid pills to liquid solution. This allows high concentrations of active ingredients to be delivered in a small volume that is easy to consume, eliminating the swallowability problem while maximizing active ingredient delivery
3Stability of the object's composition
If fillers and binding agents are used to produce solid tablets, then the tablets have acceptable shelf life and structure, but the excessive use of these agents resists digestion and reduces absorption of active ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes fillers and binding agents from the formulation by using liquid or softgel-encapsulated liquid form. This extraction of harmful substances eliminates the interference with digestion and absorption while maintaining product stability through alternative formulation strategies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the formulation parameter from solid matrix requiring fillers/binders to liquid solution or softgel encapsulation. This parameter change eliminates the need for digestion-resistant fillers while ensuring complete absorption of active ingredients
4Measurement precision
If precise dosing control is implemented, then over-dosing and under-dosing are prevented, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-measuring and pre-packaging the liquid supplement in single-serving units or precisely formulated bottles. The dosing is determined during manufacturing rather than at dispensing time, which ensures accuracy while keeping the dispensing system simple
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 system allows for easy and precise administration of dietary supplements, enhancing absorption and reducing the risk of over- or under-dosing, making it suitable for various age groups and pets, while minimizing the use of fillers and binding agents.
Implementation Method 1
A fluid level monitor is operatively associated with the water tank for measuring the water level in the water tank
Implementation Method 2
A flow control valve is operatively associated with the conduit, and can be selectively actuated between open and closed positions to regulate the flow of water from the exit end of the conduit
Implementation Method 3
A computer control system operatively interconnects the fluid level monitor and the flow control valve, and includes a non-transitory computer readable medium coded with instructions and executed by a processor to manipulate the flow control valve between its open and closed positions in direct response to the measured water level in the water tank
Implementation Method 4
a granulated nutritional supplement dispensing machine that mixes powdered supplements with water in measured doses
Data Source
AI summary
A granulated nutritional supplement dispensing machine extracts single-serving doses from a multi-serving supplements cartridge for delivery as a drinkable solution. A lead serving chamber is pierced so that its powered contents drain into a mixing cup together with a metered quantity of water from an integrated water tank. A vibrator unit assists drainage of the granulated materials from the lead serving chamber. The mixing cup is rotated at high speed to blend the water and supplements into a slurry. The supplements cartridge is indexed after (or before) use so that an unopened serving chamber is presented each time for extracting its supplements. This enables partially-used supplements cartridges to be used in the machine, as is conducive in multiple-user households. The supplements cartridge is configured with read-write data capability to indicate whether or not the contents of each serving chamber have been emptied.