Recipe-Controlled Ingredient Dispensing for Flexible Product Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing systems are static and limited in their ability to generate a variety of products, requiring extensive modifications to mechanical, electrical, and software components for reconfiguration, which is inefficient and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A modular product dispensing system that includes a flow control device, pump module, and controller to regulate the supply of ingredients based on predetermined recipes, using feedback signals and variable line impedances to adjust flow rates and quantities, allowing for flexible production of different products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a processing system is designed with dedicated mechanical, electrical, and software components for specific products, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but adaptability and versatility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal components that can perform multiple functions across different products. The flow control device, pump module, and controller are designed as multi-functional units that can regulate various ingredients (beverages, juices, concentrates, carbonation) for multiple product types through software-controlled parameters rather than hardware reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control through programmable parameters that can be adjusted in real-time. The controller modifies flow rates, mixing ratios, and dispensing sequences through software settings rather than physical changes, allowing the same hardware to adapt dynamically to different product requirements while maintaining reliable performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If processing systems are reconfigured to generate different products, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and reconfiguration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the dispensing process into independent modular components (flow control device, pump module, controller) that operate separately but coordinate through standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows each module to remain simple while the system as a whole achieves high versatility through software coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical reconfiguration mechanisms with software-based control. Instead of physically changing components or reassembling hardware for different products, the system uses programmable parameters, flow rate settings, and control logic to adapt to different products, dramatically reducing reconfiguration complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive modifications are made to mechanical and electrical components for reconfiguration, then product variety is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures multiple product recipes and parameters in the controller's memory before production. When a product change is needed, the system simply loads the pre-programmed parameters for the new product, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual reconfiguration of mechanical and electrical components during transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
A product dispensing system includes a flow control device configured to regulate a first ingredient. A pump module is configured to be coupled to a supply of a second ingredient. A controller is configured to provide a first control signal to the flow control device for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the first ingredient based upon, at least in part, a predetermined recipe. The controller is further configured to provide a second control signal to the pump module for controlling the supply of a first quantity of the second ingredient based upon, at least in part, the predetermined recipe.