Touchless Sample Dispensing with Agitated Spherical Pods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing machines face limitations such as restricted product pricing due to coin-operated mechanisms, inflexibility in handling different goods, and the need for physical contact, which poses hygiene concerns and restricts user interaction.
Innovation Solution
A touchless dispensing system utilizing spherical pods stored in a closely-packed assemblage within a storage compartment, where an agitator reduces friction and a dispensing wheel transfers pods to an access port, allowing consumers to retrieve samples using a mobile device for contactless interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If spherical pods are stored in a closely-packed assemblage, then storage density is improved, but friction between adjacent pods increases making dispensing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an agitator that vibrates or agitates the closely-packed spherical pods to reduce friction between adjacent pods, enabling smooth dispensing while maintaining high storage density. The agitation mechanism periodically disturbs the pod arrangement, preventing static friction from locking the pods in place.
2Device complexity
If traditional coin-operated mechanisms are used, then machine simplicity is improved, but product pricing flexibility and hygiene are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional coin-operated mechanical mechanisms with a mobile device-based interaction system. Users scan a code with their mobile device to initiate dispensing, eliminating the need for physical coin insertion and contact with shared surfaces. This substitution enables flexible pricing through digital transactions while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If samples are distributed without staff supervision, then operational efficiency is improved, but control over sample distribution is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a verification process where mobile devices communicate with the dispensing machine to verify user eligibility and track sample distribution. The system provides feedback loops that confirm proper dispensing operation and prevent unauthorized multiple dispensings, maintaining control while enabling unattended operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing machine operates autonomously by accepting mobile device commands and automatically dispensing samples without staff intervention. The system self-regulates the dispensing process, controlling the mechanism to release exactly one pod per verified transaction, thereby maintaining reliability through automated control.
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
The system enables flexible and hygienic dispensing of product samples, allowing for various product types and pricing, while reducing the need for physical contact and staff presence, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
an agitator mounted for movement within the storage compartment to agitate the spherical pods within the storage compartment so as to reduce friction between adjacent spherical pods
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for dispensing a product sample to a consumer that includes a storage compartment for holding a plurality of spherical pods each containing a product sample in a closely-packed assemblage, a dispensing area communicating with the storage compartment and including an access port accessible by a consumer to obtain a single spherical pod, a dispensing wheel mounted for rotation adjacent the dispensing area for transferring a single spherical pod from the storage compartment to the access port, and an agitator wheel mounted for movement within the storage compartment to agitate the spherical pods within the storage compartment so as to reduce friction between adjacent spherical pods in the closely-packed assemblage and promote movement of pods from the storage compartment towards the dispensing wheel.