Loose Tea Dispenser With Weight-Based Dosing and Sealed Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional method of preparing tea is time-consuming and not conducive to rapid production, and existing solutions like tea bags and pods face challenges in varying quantities and freshness.
Innovation Solution
A container and dispenser system that measures and dispenses loose leaf tea by weight into a hopper, allowing for precise quantity selection and maintaining freshness through a sealed canister or refillable housing, with a user interface for selecting tea amounts and strength, and optional coin/bill acceptor for vending machine functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hand measurement method is used, then tea preparation is simple and flexible, but production speed is slow and not conducive to rapid production
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system automatically measures and dispenses tea leaves without requiring manual intervention for measurement. The system self-regulates the dispensing process through integrated weight sensors and control mechanisms, eliminating the need for hand measurement while maintaining operational simplicity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement with an automated electronic control system that uses weight sensors and motorized dispensing mechanisms. This substitution enables rapid, consistent measurement and dispensing of tea leaves, significantly increasing production speed while reducing the complexity of manual operations.
2Productivity
If tea bags are used, then production is expedited and convenience is improved, but tea freshness is compromised due to storage and transit time
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares tea leaves in advance by storing them in sealed containers within the dispenser, maintaining freshness until the moment of use. The automated measurement and dispensing system is pre-configured to deliver exact quantities, eliminating the need for storage and transit of pre-packaged tea bags while preserving leaf freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser maintains tea leaves in a protected environment, typically with inert gas filling, that prevents oxidation and degradation. This inert atmosphere preserves tea freshness from storage through dispensing, eliminating the freshness loss associated with tea bag storage and transit while maintaining high production efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If tea bags or pods are used, then standardization is achieved, but versatility in producing varying quantities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system uses dynamic control mechanisms that allow real-time adjustment of dispensing quantities. The motorized dispensing system can be programmed to deliver precise measurements for various cup sizes and tea types, providing both standardization and flexibility that fixed tea bag or pod systems cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables easy modification of dispensing parameters such as weight, volume, and dispensing speed through electronic controls. This allows the same device to produce standardized quantities for efficiency while also accommodating variable quantities for different tea preparations, maintaining both precision and versatility.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If sealed canister is used, then tea freshness is maintained by preventing contact with atmosphere, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sealed storage container directly into the dispenser housing, combining the protective storage function with the dispensing mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate external canisters while maintaining the sealed environment that protects tea from atmospheric exposure, thus preserving freshness without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A loose material measuring and dispensing system including a container and dispenser. The tea container serves to store the tea leaves or grounds in a storage bin prior to activation of the system. Upon activation, the dispenser measures and loads a selected amount of tea into a hopper for dispensing, such as into a waiting cup or a tea infuser. The amount of tea may be selected based upon user operation of one of a number of quantity indicating/selection buttons provided in a user interface. The container is a sealed canister, such as a bag or jug, which is preferably impermeable to light. Furthermore, the dispenser is able to operate to load a desired amount of tea (e.g. by weight), specified by the user, into the hopper. Once the desired amount of tea is loaded into the hopper, the tea may be dispensed, such as into a waiting cup or infuser below.