Wireless Pour Spout with Sensor-Controlled Valve for Liquor Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bartenders face challenges in achieving a consistent flow rate when pouring liquor from bottles, leading to variations in drink volume and quality, and existing systems lack accountability and accuracy in liquor dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a pour spout with a wireless valve control unit, a server interface, and a Point of Sale terminal that allows for precise control of liquor dispensing based on motion detection, temperature, bottle angle, and volume, ensuring accurate and consistent pouring while logging sales.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a simple bottle spout is used for dispensing liquor, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is high, but the manufacturing precision and measurement precision of dispensed volume are insufficient leading to inconsistent flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical passive spout system with an electronic control system comprising a valve actuated by a motor, controlled by a microcontroller that receives input from sensors (flow sensors, temperature sensors, tilt sensors) and communicates with external devices via wireless transceivers. This substitution of mechanical systems with electronic and software-based systems enables precise control of dispensing parameters while maintaining ease of operation through automated sensing and adjustment.
2Loss of information
If free pouring without measurement is allowed, then the ease of operation is high for bartenders, but the loss of information regarding exact volume dispensed occurs leading to accountability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where flow sensors continuously monitor the volume of liquor being dispensed, temperature sensors monitor the temperature of the liquor, and tilt sensors monitor the angle of the bottle. This sensory data is fed back to a microcontroller that automatically adjusts the valve actuation duration and intensity to maintain consistent flow rates. The system also communicates dispensing data to external devices for tracking and accountability, providing both real-time control feedback and record-keeping feedback without requiring manual measurement by the bartender.
3Reliability
If variables such as pouring angle, volume remaining, and temperature are not controlled, then the ease of operation is high, but the manufacturing precision and consistency of flow rate deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the spout system to automatically sense and adjust to changing conditions without requiring manual intervention. The tilt sensor automatically detects bottle angle changes and communicates this to the microcontroller, which adjusts valve actuation accordingly. The temperature sensor automatically monitors liquor temperature and the system compensates for temperature-induced viscosity changes by adjusting flow parameters. The flow sensors continuously monitor dispensing rate and provide real-time feedback for automatic adjustment. This self-service capability maintains reliable flow rate consistency while keeping the operation simple for the bartender.
Data Source
AI summary
A pour spout for dispensing a beverage from a bottle including a bottle adapter for attaching to a bottle to receive a beverage from the bottle, a housing having a chamber into which a housing inlet and a housing outlet open, the housing inlet connected to the bottle adapter for receiving the beverage, a valve carriage moveably received within the chamber and having a carriage passage, a resilient first tube providing a first passageway for beverage to flow from the housing inlet to the carriage passage, a resilient second tube providing a second passageway for beverage to flow from the carriage passage to the housing outlet, a valve operatively connected to the valve carriage to control flow of the beverage through the housing from the housing inlet to the housing outlet; and a valve actuator for moving the valve carriage within the chamber to operate the valve open or closed.