RFID-Enabled Food Dispenser for Product Origin Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for dispensing food products lack control over the origin of the products, leading to potential use of unauthorized products and compromised quality, as they can be used with third-party products instead of those provided by the producer.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an automatic identification electronic device, such as an RFID tag, in product containers that communicates with a radio frequency reading device in the apparatus, enabling operation only with authorized products and disabling reuse of containers after use to ensure controlled dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no identification system is used, then the apparatus can be used with any product container, but the origin of the product cannot be controlled and unauthorized products may be dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical/mechanical control methods with electronic identification systems. Specifically, it uses RFID tags and readers to automatically verify product authenticity, substituting manual inspection or mechanical locking mechanisms with wireless electromagnetic identification, thereby achieving reliable product origin control without significantly increasing mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary identification system (RFID tag and reader) between the product container and the dispensing mechanism. This intermediary verifies the product's authenticity before allowing dispensing, ensuring that only authorized products can be used while maintaining a relatively simple overall apparatus structure
2Productivity
If product containers can be reused, then economic efficiency improves, but the same container cannot be used again after cleaning for different products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a container lifecycle management system where containers are discarded after a single use and recovered for cleaning. The RFID identification system tracks each container's usage status, automatically disabling it after dispensing to prevent reuse, while allowing cleaned containers to be重新activated. This ensures that even after cleaning, containers maintain their origin control integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the RFID reader continuously monitors the container's identification status. After a container is used, the system provides feedback by disabling its ID, preventing further dispensing operations. This feedback loop ensures that containers cannot be reused for different products even after cleaning, maintaining reliable product origin control while allowing efficient container management
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
Ensures the origin of dispensed products is verified, preventing unauthorized use and maintaining product quality by enabling apparatus functionality only with recognized, authorized products for a predetermined period, followed by cleaning operations.
Implementation Method 1
perform the reading of said electronic device by means of a radio frequency reading device associated with the apparatus
Data Source
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AI summary
The method for controlling the dispensing of food products provides to introduce in a housing seat (12) of the dispenser apparatus (1) a container (10) of product to be dispensed provided with an electronic device (11) for automatic identification containing information about the origin of the same product,and to perform the reading of said electronic device (11) by means of a radio frequency reading device (15) associated with the apparatus (1).After the recognition of the electronic device (11) by the radio frequency device (15) the functioning of the apparatus is enabled. Simultaneously the electronic device (11) is disabled so as to prevent the re-use of the same container (10) of product to be dispensed.