Valve current error detection for fluid mixture dispensing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage dispensing systems require significant storage space for basic beverage components, often need refrigeration, and lack customization capabilities, making them inefficient and unsuitable for household or commercial use.
Innovation Solution
An automated fluid mixture dispensing system that uses predefined chemical makeup to prepare custom fluid mixtures by combining solvents and ingredients, with electromechanical valves and current sensors for precise ingredient dispensing and error detection, allowing for the creation of various fluid mixtures with minimal storage footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If basic beverage components (syrups/concentrates) are stored in traditional dispensing systems, then beverage dispensing capability is achieved, but storage space requirements increase significantly and refrigeration is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the beverage formulation into multiple individual chemical ingredients stored in separate reservoirs, rather than storing pre-mixed syrups or concentrates. This allows the system to dispense only the specific ingredients needed for each beverage, significantly reducing storage space while maintaining beverage dispensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and form of storage from bulk syrup/concentrate containers to small-volume chemical ingredient reservoirs. By storing ingredients in their pure chemical form rather than as mixed beverage components, the system reduces storage volume requirements while enabling customized beverage preparation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple basic beverage components are stored for different beverages, then beverage variety is increased, but storage footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal set of chemical ingredient reservoirs that can be combined in different proportions to create multiple different beverages. Rather than storing separate syrup containers for each beverage type, the same set of chemical ingredients serves all beverage formulations, reducing the storage footprint while maintaining beverage variety.
3Manufacturing precision
If electromechanical valves are used for precise ingredient dispensing, then dispensing precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical dispensing mechanisms with electromechanical valves that are controlled electronically. This substitution allows for precise control of ingredient flow through electrical signals, achieving high dispensing precision while simplifying the overall control architecture compared to purely mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates current sensors that monitor the electrical current drawn by each electromechanical valve during operation. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to detect valve status and dispensing conditions, ensuring precise ingredient delivery while maintaining relatively simple valve hardware design.
4Reliability
If current sensors are added for error detection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current sensors enable the electromechanical valves to essentially self-diagnose their operational status. By monitoring the current draw, the system can automatically detect valve errors without requiring separate complex diagnostic mechanisms, improving reliability while adding minimal complexity.
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 efficient preparation and dispensing of customized beverages with reduced storage needs, precise control over ingredient proportions, and error detection mechanisms, enhancing usability and efficiency in both household and commercial settings.
Implementation Method 1
a current sensor configured to measure a current draw of the electromechanical valve
Data Source
AI summary
Ingredient dispensing systems and methods are disclosed. A disclosed system includes an ingredient reservoir and an electromechanical valve configured so that, when the electromechanical valve is activated, an ingredient is dispensed from the ingredient reservoir. The disclosed system also includes a current sensor configured to measure a current draw of the electromechanical valve. The disclosed system also includes a controller programmed to sample the current draw from the current sensor and to detect a dispense error of the electromechanical valve based on the sampled current draw.