Spout Mixing Device with Separate Conduits for Fresh Beverage Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing systems are limited in their ability to mix different types of liquids on demand, often requiring pre-mixed beverages and taking up valuable kitchen space, while also facing challenges with contamination and limited control over beverage concentration.
Innovation Solution
A mixing device and tap system that integrates multiple inlets for different liquids, allowing for separate delivery and mixing of line water, drinking liquids, and additive liquids at the spout outlet, with optional air mixing and control over concentration through a user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beverage types are dispensed through a single tap, then beverage variety is improved, but contamination risk increases due to shared conduits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid delivery system into separate fluidly separated conduits for different beverage types (water, syrup, milk, etc.) that converge only at the mixing chamber. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination while maintaining the ability to dispense multiple beverage types through a single tap interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber acts as an intermediary component where separately delivered liquids are combined. This intermediary structure allows multiple beverages to be mixed without requiring shared conduits, thereby preventing contamination while achieving beverage variety.
2Speed
If pre-mixed beverages are stored and dispensed, then dispensing speed is improved, but freshness and hygiene deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary preparation by storing individual beverage components (water, syrups, milk) in separate reservoirs ready for dispensing, rather than pre-mixing. This allows rapid assembly of mixed beverages on demand while maintaining freshness of individual components through separate storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing ratios and beverage compositions are dynamically adjustable by users through the control interface, allowing customization of each dispensing event. This dynamic mixing capability provides both speed (rapid preparation) and freshness (customized on-demand mixing) that static pre-mixed systems cannot achieve.
3Ease of operation
If conventional aerators are used at the spout, then water delivery is improved, but beverage taste and purity deteriorate due to air mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conventional aerator component from the beverage delivery path and replaces it with a dedicated mixing chamber that combines liquids without introducing air. This extraction of the aerating function preserves beverage taste and purity while maintaining adequate liquid delivery through the spout.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber serves as an intermediary that combines beverages without requiring aerators. This intermediary structure enables proper liquid mixing while avoiding the harmful effect of air entrapment that would otherwise be necessary for water delivery enhancement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conduits are integrated in the spout, then beverage mixing capability is improved, but spout area and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested conduit arrangement where multiple fluidly separated conduits are positioned concentrically or in nested configurations within the spout structure. This nesting allows multiple beverage conduits to occupy minimal space while maintaining fluid separation and mixing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing chamber is positioned within or integrated into the spout structure in three-dimensional space, allowing multiple conduits to converge without increasing the two-dimensional spout footprint. This dimensional integration enables multi-beverage mixing while maintaining compact spout dimensions.
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 the delivery of fresh, customized beverages by mixing liquids on demand, preventing contamination, and offering improved control over concentration, while occupying standard kitchen tap dimensions and minimizing space usage.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing device for mixing at least two different types of liquids of different ingredients suitable for being placed within a tap spout
Implementation Method 2
The beverage tap dispensers come to solve the major drawback of the traditional stand-alone dispensing systems, as they all take valuable countertop or kitchen space
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing device for mixing at least two different types of liquids of different ingredients suitable for being placed within a tap spout, preferably at a spout outlet, comprising at least two inlets configured to receive the liquids. The mixing device is adapted to deliver liquids separately at the same time such that the liquids mix at an outlet of the mixing device. The mixing device may further comprise a mixing space adapted to mix the liquids received at the inlets and deliver the mixture of the liquids, or deliver one type of liquid through the mixing space when only one type of liquid is received at the inlets, at the outlet of the mixing device. Each of the inlets is connected to a respective conduit that is fluidly separated from the other conduits. The present invention further relates to mixing tap systems using such a mixing device.