Beverage Tablet Surface Identification for Adaptive Dispensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage dispensing machines cannot readily distinguish between different types of beverage ingredient tablets, leading to suboptimal dispensation parameters and inefficient beverage preparation.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the measurement of the surface finish of a beverage ingredient tablet to identify its type, allowing for configuration of specific dispense parameters such as temperature, volume, flow rate, and pressure of an aqueous fluid, using non-contact sensors like interferometry or colorimetry to tailor the brewing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If beverage preparation machines use generic dispensation parameters for all tablet types, then the device complexity is reduced, but the beverage quality and preparation efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidbeverage preparation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the beverage preparation machine to automatically identify the tablet type through surface finish measurement and autonomously select the appropriate dispensation parameters, eliminating the need for manual parameter configuration by the user while optimizing beverage preparation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting dispensation parameters (such as water temperature, flow rate, and volume) based on the identified tablet type through surface finish measurement, allowing the system to optimize beverage quality for different tablet formulations without increasing fundamental device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If beverage preparation machines use separate identifiers on tablets, then the identification accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and environmental waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the identification function from separate physical identifiers (such as labels or codes) and embeds it directly into the tablet's surface finish characteristics, eliminating the need for additional manufacturing steps to apply separate identifiers while maintaining identification accuracy through optical or capacitive sensing of surface properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tablet surface serves multiple functions: it provides the structural integrity of the tablet and simultaneously encodes identification information through its finish characteristics, eliminating the need for separate identifier components and simplifying the overall manufacturing process while reducing environmental waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If beverage preparation machines use contact-based measurement methods, then the measurement precision is improved, but the risk of tablet damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidtablet damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical contact-based measurement systems with non-contact optical or capacitive sensing methods that measure surface finish characteristics through electromagnetic fields or light reflection, achieving sufficient measurement precision for tablet identification without applying physical contact that could damage the tablet structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 tailored brewing parameters for each type of beverage ingredient tablet, improving the efficiency and quality of beverage preparation by avoiding the need for separate identifiers and reducing environmental waste.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet to identify the beverage ingredient tablet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterferometry: Interference

Implementation Method 2

measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet to identify the beverage ingredient tablet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColorimetry: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP2934250B1A method of dispensing a beverage, a beverage preparation machine, and a system

Publication Date: 2018.05.30 KONINK DOUWE EGBERTS BV

Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet (20) into a beverage preparation machine (30); b) measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet (20) to identify the beverage ingredient tablet; c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine (30) based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (20); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine (30) to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet (20) with an aqueous fluid.