Patent ID: 12227405

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made in detail to embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts, components, or operations.

Please refer toFIG.1throughFIG.3.FIG.1shows a simplified schematic perspective diagram of a fluid material dispensing apparatus100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS.2-3show simplified schematic diagrams illustrating spatial arrangement of some components of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100from different viewing angles. The fluid material dispensing apparatus100may be utilized to automatically conduct beverage preparation operations to make beverages or output various fluid materials (e.g., various sauces) for use in food seasoning.

In the embodiment ofFIG.1, the fluid material dispensing apparatus100comprises an upper chamber101, a lower chamber103, a neck chamber105, one or more connecting channels107, and a control panel109. In order to reduce the complexity of the drawing contents, the appearance outline of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100is deliberately represented by dashed lines inFIG.1, while some internal objects to be further described in the following are depicted with solid lines. Please note that the appearance shape of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100is merely a simplified exemplary embodiment for the purpose of explanatory convenience, rather than a restriction to the actual appearance of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100.

The upper chamber101of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100may be connected to the neck chamber105, and may be connected to the lower chamber103through the connecting channel107. Relevant wires, signal lines, connectors, and/or material transmission pipes may be arranged inside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100in a variety of appropriate ways.

As shown inFIG.1throughFIG.3, the fluid material dispensing apparatus100further comprises a plurality of pumps110, a plurality of damper devices120, a plurality of flowmeters130, a plurality of material output tubes140, a plurality of nozzles150, and a connecting plate160.

Each of the aforementioned pumps110may be connected to other components through various material transmission pipes and connectors, and may be installed within the upper chamber101, the lower chamber103, and/or the neck chamber105in a variety of appropriate spatial arrangements, not restricted to the spatial arrangement shown inFIG.1throughFIG.3.

Each of the aforementioned damper devices120and flowmeters130may be connected to other components through various material transmission pipes and connectors, and may be installed within the upper chamber101, the lower chamber103, and/or the neck chamber105in a variety of appropriate spatial arrangements, not restricted to the spatial arrangement shown inFIG.1throughFIG.3.

Each of the aforementioned material output tubes140may be connected to other components through various material transmission pipes and connectors, and may be installed within the neck chamber105in a variety of appropriate spatial arrangements, not restricted to the spatial arrangement shown inFIG.1throughFIG.3.

The aforementioned nozzles150may be detachably arranged on the connecting plate160through various appropriate connections, and the connecting plate160may be detachably arranged beneath the neck chamber105through various appropriate connections, not restricted to the spatial arrangement shown inFIG.1throughFIG.3. In addition, the input terminal of each nozzle150may be connected to the output terminal of a corresponding material output tube140through various material transmission pipes and connectors. The output terminals of respective nozzles150and the connecting plate160can be exposed outside the neck chamber105to facilitate the user to carry out relevant cleaning procedures.

As shown inFIG.1, multiple material containers180may be placed within the lower chamber103of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100. Different material containers180may be utilized to store different fluid materials. For example, the aforementioned fluid material may be common beverage base materials, such as water, sparkling water, black tea, green tea, soy milk, milk, milk-based liquids, coffee, nut pulps, various fruit-based concentrates, various vegetable-based concentrates, or the like.

For another example, the aforementioned fluid material may be various syrups, such as agave syrup, dulce de leche, fructose, golden syrup, lemonade syrups, maltose syrup, maple syrup, molasses, orgeat, and/or palm syrup, or the like.

For yet another example, the aforementioned fluid material may be various alcoholic beverages, such as beer, cocktails, and/or sake, or the like.

For yet another example, the aforementioned fluid material may be various sauces or fluid condiments, such as apple sauce, chutneys, cranberry sauce, salad dressings, fruit coulis, ketchup, tomato sauce, mayonnaise, meat gravies, miso sauce, hummus, pasta sauce, piccalilli, soy sauce, spices sauce, spicy sauce, and/or ginger jam, or the like.

For yet another example, the aforementioned fluid material may be various fluid materials, such as fruit juices containing fruit pulps, tea liquids with small particles (e.g., pearl or tapioca balls), honey, cooking oils, vinegar, jams, marmalade, pressed fruit paste, beer vinegar, buttercream, condensed milk, and/or cream, or the like.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing descriptions, the fluid material that the fluid material dispensing apparatus100can output may be fluid having higher viscosity than water, and may be fluid having lower viscosity than water.

Each material container180has an outlet connector182, which may be connected to a corresponding component (e.g., a corresponding pump110or a corresponding damper device120) through various material transmission pipes and connectors.

In other embodiments, all of or some of the material containers180may be instead placed within the upper chamber101, without being restricted to the spatial arrangement shown inFIG.1. In practice, appropriate refrigeration equipment may be installed within the fluid material dispensing apparatus100to extend the storage time of various fluid materials.

Please note that the quantity of the pumps110, the damper devices120, the flowmeters130, the material output tubes140, the nozzles150, the connecting plate160, and the material containers180shown inFIG.1throughFIG.3is merely an exemplary embodiment, rather than a restriction to the practical implementations.

Please refer toFIG.4, which shows a simplified functional block diagram of a material dispensing device400in the fluid material dispensing apparatus100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The fluid material dispensing apparatus100comprises multiple material dispensing devices400, which are respectively responsible for delivering the fluid materials stored in different material containers180to the output terminals of corresponding nozzles150.

Each material dispensing device400comprises a pump110, one or more damper devices120, a flowmeter130, a material output tube140, a corresponding nozzle150, and a control circuit480, wherein the pump110, the one or more damper devices120, the flowmeter130, the material output tube140, and the corresponding nozzle150may be connected by appropriate material transmission pipes and connectors to form a material transmission channel for transporting and dispensing a corresponding fluid material stored in a corresponding material container180.

In order to reduce the complexity of the drawing contents, only one exemplary material dispensing device400is shown inFIG.4as an example for explanation, and other structures and devices of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100are not shown inFIG.4. The components and operating mechanism of the material dispensing device400can be applied to other material dispensing devices in the fluid material dispensing apparatus100.

In the material dispensing device400, the pump110is coupled with the control circuit480, and arranged to operably push received fluid material (hereinafter, target material) to flow forward under control of the control circuit480. In practice, the pump110may be realized with various appropriate pump devices capable of pushing fluid forward, such as a peristaltic pump, a diaphragm pump, a rotary diaphragm pump, or the like.

A material inlet of the pump110may be coupled with the outlet connector182of a corresponding material container180through appropriate connectors and material transmission pipes, and arranged to operably receive the target material transmitted from the corresponding material container180through the outlet connector182.

The damper device120is arranged to operably conduct a buffering operation on the target material flowing through the damper device120. In some embodiments, an input terminal of the damper device120is coupled with a material outlet of the pump110. In other words, the damper device120may be located at the subsequent stage of the pump110. In practice, the damper device120may be directly connected to the material outlet of the pump110, or may be indirectly connected to the material outlet of the pump110through other appropriate connectors and material transmission pipes.

During the operations of the aforementioned pump110, the target material may be intermittently pushed forward, and thus the liquid pressure at the material outlet of the pump110exhibits periodic fluctuations. Such a situation will cause the amount of the target material flowing into the damper device120to exhibit periodic fluctuations.

When the volume of the target material in the damper device120exceeds a predetermined amount (i.e., the nominal volume of the damper device120), a buffer chamber of the damper device120will temporarily deform to expand, so that the amount of the target material in the damper device120can temporarily exceed the nominal volume of the damper device120. Over time, the elastic restoring force of the buffer chamber will push the target material in the damper device120to gradually flow toward the output terminal of the damper device120, so that the amount of the target material in the damper device120will drop back to a level close to its nominal volume.

The flowmeter130is coupled with the control circuit480, and arranged to operably measure a flow of target material to be dispensed to the target container190through the target nozzle150, so that the control circuit480can precisely control the volume of target material to be dispensed to the target container190. The flowmeter130may be arranged at any appropriate position between the outlet connector182and the nozzle150. For example, the flowmeter130of this embodiment may be coupled with the output terminal of the damper device120, and arranged to operably measure the flow of target material passing through the flowmeter130. In other words, the flowmeter130may be located at the subsequent stage of the damper device120. In practice, the flowmeter130may be directly connected to the output terminal of the damper device120, or may be indirectly connected to the output terminal of the damper device120through other appropriate connectors and material transmission pipes.

The material output tube140may be coupled with the output terminal of the flowmeter130, and arranged to operably transmit the received target material toward the corresponding nozzle150. In practice, the material output tube140may be indirectly connected to the output terminal of the flowmeter130through a connector with other appropriate material transmission pipes to increase the selection flexibility of the position of the material output tube140.

The nozzle150is coupled with the output terminal of the material output tube140, and arranged to operably output the target material transmitted from the material output tube140to the target container190. In practice, the nozzle150may be directly connected to the output terminal of the material output tube140, or may be indirectly connected to the output terminal of the material output tube140through the aforementioned connecting plate160or other appropriate material transmission pipes. The nozzle150may be realized with a duckbill valve, a check valve, or other appropriate outlet connector.

As described previously, the damper device120conducts a buffering treatment to the target material flowing through the damper device120with the deformation and elastic restoring force of its buffer chamber. Accordingly, both the flow speed variation and the liquid pressure variation of the target material leaving the output terminal of the damper device120will be apparently lower than the flow speed variation and liquid pressure variation of the target material received by the input terminal of the damper device120. Such structure is beneficial for improving the measuring accuracy of the flowmeter130in measuring the flow of the target material passing through the flowmeter130, thereby effectively increasing the liquid volume control accuracy of the material dispensing device400for fluid material to be dispensed.

If the aforementioned damper device120is omitted, both the flow speed variation and the liquid pressure variation of the target material flowing through the flowmeter130will become greater. Such a situation will cause a negative impact to the measuring accuracy of the flowmeter130in measuring the flow of the target material, thereby reducing the flow measurement accuracy of the flowmeter130.

Please note that the structure and connections between components of the material dispensing device400described previously is merely an exemplary embodiment, rather than a restriction to the practical implementations of the material dispensing device400.

In another embodiment, for example, the damper device120and the flowmeter130may be instead located at the prior stage of the pump110. Specifically, the input terminal of the damper device120may instead be coupled with the outlet connector182of a corresponding material container180through appropriate connectors and material transmission pipes, so as to receive the target material transmitted from the corresponding material container180. On the other hand, the material inlet of the pump110may instead be coupled with the output terminal of the flowmeter130, so as to receive the target material passed through the flowmeter130. That is, the flowmeter130is coupled between the damper device120and the pump110in this embodiment. In practice, the material inlet of the pump110may be directly connected to the output terminal of the flowmeter130, or may be indirectly connected to the output terminal of the flowmeter130through appropriate connectors or material transmission pipes.

In yet another embodiment, the damper device120may be instead located at the prior stage of the pump110and the flowmeter130may be instead located at the prior stage of the damper device120. Specifically, the input terminal of the flowmeter130is coupled with the outlet connector182of a corresponding material container180, the input terminal of the damper device120is coupled with the output terminal of the flowmeter130, and the material inlet of the pump110is coupled with the output terminal of the damper device120.

In yet another embodiment, a first damper device120is coupled with the material outlet of the pump110, while a second damper device120is coupled between the outlet connector182and the material inlet of the pump110as shown inFIG.4. That is, the material dispensing device400may comprise two damper devices120. In this embodiment, the flowmeter130may be coupled with the output terminal of the first damper device120, or coupled between the output terminal of the second damper device120and the material inlet of the pump110.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing elaborations, by utilizing the damper device120to conduct a buffering operation on the target material flowing therethrough, the measurement accuracy of the flowmeter130in measuring the flow of the target material outputted from the damper device120can be significantly improved, thereby effectively increasing the output volume control accuracy of the material dispensing device400for fluid materials to be dispensed.

Even if the fluid materials employed by the fluid material dispensing apparatus100are liquids having a viscosity higher than water, for example, honey, various syrups, soy milks, nut pulps, fruit juice concentrates, fruit juices containing fruit pulps, tea-based liquids containing small particles (e.g., bubbles or tapioca balls), milk-based liquids, cooking oils, or other thick fluid material (e.g., various sauces) and so on, the usage amount of corresponding fluid material can be accurately measured and manipulated by adopting the disclosed material dispensing device400described previously.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing descriptions that the target material is transported from the corresponding material container180to the nozzle150through the material transmission channel of the material dispensing device400. When the material dispensing device400stops dispensing target materials, a portion of the target materials remains in the corresponding material transmission channels. For some materials, staying in the material transmission channels for too long can lead to a deterioration in quality, such as loss of freshness, inappropriate temperature, insufficient carbonation, or spoilage. If the material dispensing device400dispenses these materials to make beverages, it may negatively affect the quality or taste of the resulting beverages and may even pose a food safety risk.

In order to resolve the above problem, the material dispensing device400adopts a material quality control mechanism to automatically exclude and discard unqualified materials when making beverages. In this way, the fluid material dispensing apparatus100can prevent unqualified materials from being dispensed to the target container190, so as to ensure that the quality and freshness of the resulting beverages can meet requirements.

As shown inFIG.4, the material dispensing device400further comprises a flow direction switch device460and a temperature sensor470. The flow direction switch device460is coupled with the control circuit480, and has an input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The input terminal is coupled with the outlet connector182of the corresponding material container180through appropriate connectors and material transmission pipes, and arranged to operably receive the target material output from the outlet connector182. The first output terminal is coupled with the target nozzle150through the material output tube140and various appropriate connectors and/or pipes, and arranged to operably output received target material to the target nozzle150. The second output terminal is coupled with a material drainage port404through various appropriate connectors and/or pipes, and arranged to operably output received target material to the material drainage port404.

The flow direction switch device460is arranged to operably decide where the target material received by the flow direction switch device460should flow toward. In this embodiment, the flow direction switch device460is only allowed to output received target material toward either the target nozzle150or the material drainage port404under control of the control circuit480. That is, when the first output terminal of the flow direction switch device460outputs target material to the target nozzle150, the second output terminal of the flow direction switch device460does not (or is unable to) output target material to the material drainage port404. On the contrary, when the second output terminal of the flow direction switch device460outputs target material to the material drainage port404, the first output terminal of the flow direction switch device460does not (or is unable to) output target material to the target nozzle150.

In practice, the source selection device430may be realized with various appropriate valves, such as various three-way valves.

The temperature sensor470is coupled with the control circuit480, and arranged to operably sense and report the temperature of the target material inside the material dispensing device400(i.e., to sense the temperature of the target material inside the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460) to the control circuit480. In practice, the temperature sensor470may be arranged in any appropriate position inside the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460. Alternatively, the temperature sensor470may be attached on any appropriate position on the surface of the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460.

In the embodiment ofFIG.4, the temperature sensor470is positioned between the damper device120and the flowmeter130, and arranged to operably sense the temperature of the target material to be transmitted from the damper device120to the flowmeter130.

When the fluid material dispensing apparatus100requires the material dispensing device400to add target material to the target container190, the control circuit480evaluates the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400, and controls the operation of the flow direction switch device460(e.g., the material output direction of the flow direction switch device460) according to the quality evaluation of the target material inside the material dispensing device400.

As described previously, the control circuit480of this embodiment is enabled to obtain the temperature of the target material inside the material dispensing device400based on the sensing result of the temperature sensor470. In this embodiment, when the material dispensing device400needs to output target material to the target container190, the control circuit480evaluates the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400based on the sensing result of the temperature sensor470. If the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the target material inside the material dispensing device400reaches a predetermined temperature, the control circuit480would determine that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable. In this situation, the control circuit480deems the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400as qualified target material, and controls the flow direction switch device460to guide the target material to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150can dispense qualified target material into the target container190.

On the contrary, if the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the target material does not reach the predetermined temperature, the control circuit480would determine that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable. In this situation, the control circuit480deems a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400as unqualified target material, and controls the flow direction switch device460to block the first output terminal and to guide the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. In this way, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing unqualified target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

On the other hand, the control circuit480controls the pump110to operate to extract target material from the corresponding material container180, so that newly extracted target material will be transported from the outlet connector182toward the flow direction switch device460through the material transmission channel. With the continuous operation of the pump110, the unqualified target material inside the material dispensing device400will be pushed to flow forward and gradually discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, while the newly extracted target material will enter and gradually fill the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460.

Afterwards, when the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the target material reaches the predetermined temperature, it indicates that the unqualified target material inside the material dispensing device400has been substantially discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100, and the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400is the newly extracted target material.

In this situation, the control circuit480of this embodiment would determine that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable. Therefore, the control circuit480would deem the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400as qualified target material, and would control the flow direction switch device460to switch its material output direction. Specifically, the control circuit480would control the flow direction switch device460to guide the target material to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150dispenses qualified target material (i.e., the newly extracted target material) into the target container190.

For example, as described previously, appropriate refrigeration equipment may be installed within the fluid material dispensing apparatus100, so that the fluid materials stored in some material containers180can be preserved in a low temperature environment. Therefore, fluid materials newly extracted from these material containers182should be at a low temperature.

In this case, when the fluid material dispensing apparatus100requires the material dispensing device400to add a specific low-temperature fluid material to the target container190, the control circuit480utilizes the temperature sensor470to sense the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400, evaluates the quality of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400based on the sensing result of the temperature sensor470, and controls the operation of the flow direction switch device460(e.g., the material output direction of the flow direction switch device460) according to the quality evaluation of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400.

If the sensing result of the temperature sensor470indicates that the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400is higher than a first predetermined temperature, which is equal to a reasonable temperature of the low-temperature fluid material or slightly higher than the reasonable temperature by a certain degree, it is likely that the low-temperature fluid material has stayed inside the material dispensing device400for too long and thus cause its temperature to increase. In this situation, the quality of a portion or all of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400may deteriorate, which means that the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400may lose freshness, have an inappropriate temperature, have insufficient carbonation, have insufficient alcohol content, have insufficient vinegar content, or may experience spoilage.

Accordingly, when the material dispensing device400needs to output the low-temperature fluid material to the target container190, if the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400does not reach the first predetermined temperature (i.e., the temperature of the fluid material is too high in this case), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to block the first output terminal and to guide the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, in order to prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing fluid material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190. On the other hand, the control circuit480controls the pump110to operate to extract fresh low-temperature fluid material from the corresponding material container180, so that newly extracted low-temperature fluid material will be transported from the outlet connector182toward the flow direction switch device460through the material transmission channel. With the continuous operation of the pump110, the unqualified fluid material inside the material dispensing device400will be pushed to flow forward and gradually discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, while the newly extracted low-temperature fluid material will enter and gradually fill the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460.

Afterwards, when the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400reaches the first predetermined temperature, the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to guide the low-temperature fluid material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150can dispense low-temperature fluid material, whose quality is acceptable, into the target container190.

For another example, when the fluid material dispensing apparatus100requires the material dispensing device400to add a specific high-temperature fluid material to the target container190, the control circuit480utilizes the temperature sensor470to sense the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400, evaluates the quality of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400based on the sensing result of the temperature sensor470, and controls the operation of the flow direction switch device460(e.g., the material output direction of the flow direction switch device460) according to the quality evaluation of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400.

If the sensing result of the temperature sensor470indicates that the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400is lower than a second predetermined temperature, which is equal to a reasonable temperature of the high-temperature fluid material or slightly lower than the reasonable temperature by a certain degree, it is likely that the high-temperature fluid material has stayed inside the material dispensing device400for too long and thus cause its temperature to drop. In this situation, the quality of a portion or all of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400may deteriorate, which means that the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400may lose freshness, have an inappropriate temperature, have insufficient carbonation, have insufficient alcohol content, have insufficient vinegar content, or may experience spoilage.

Accordingly, when the material dispensing device400needs to output the high-temperature fluid material to the target container190, if the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400does not reach the second predetermined temperature (i.e., the temperature of the fluid material is too low in this case), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to block the first output terminal and to guide the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, in order to prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing fluid material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190. On the other hand, the control circuit480controls the pump110to operate to extract fresh fluid material from the corresponding material container180, so that newly extracted fluid material will be transported from the outlet connector182toward the flow direction switch device460through the material transmission channel. With the continuous operation of the pump110, the unqualified fluid material inside the material dispensing device400will be pushed to flow forward and gradually discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, while the newly extracted fluid material will enter and gradually fill the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460. In operations, the material dispensing device400may utilize various heating mechanisms to heat the newly extracted fluid material inside the material dispensing device400to the second predetermined temperature.

Afterwards, when the control circuit480determines that the temperature of the fluid material inside the material dispensing device400reaches the second predetermined temperature, the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to guide the high-temperature fluid material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150can dispense high-temperature fluid material, whose quality if acceptable, into the target container190.

Please note that the component structure and connections between components of the material dispensing device400in the aforementionedFIG.4is merely an exemplary embodiment, rather than a restriction to the practical implementations of the material dispensing device400.

For example, some different embodiments of the material dispensing device400are shown inFIG.5throughFIG.9.

In the embodiment ofFIG.5, a damper device120is coupled between the output of the pump110and the input terminal of the flow direction switch device460. The temperature sensor470of this embodiment is positioned between the output of the pump110and the input terminal of the damper device120, and arranged to operably sense the temperature of the target material transmitted from the pump110to the damper device120.

In the embodiment ofFIG.6, a damper device120is coupled between the outlet connector182and the input of the pump110. The temperature sensor470of this embodiment is positioned between the output terminal of the damper device120and the input of the pump110, and arranged to operably sense the temperature of the target material transmitted from the damper device120to the pump110.

In the embodiment ofFIG.7, a damper device120is coupled between the outlet connector182and the input of the pump110. The temperature sensor470of this embodiment is positioned between the outlet connector182and the input terminal of the damper device120, and arranged to operably sense the temperature of the target material transmitted from the outlet connector182to the damper device120.

In the embodiment ofFIG.8, the flowmeter130is coupled between the damper device120and the input terminal of the flow direction switch device460. The temperature sensor470of this embodiment is positioned between the flowmeter130and the flow direction switch device460, and arranged to operably sense the temperature of the target material transmitted from the flowmeter130to the flow direction switch device460.

In the embodiment ofFIG.9, the temperature sensor470is positioned between the second output terminal of the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, and arranged to operably sense the temperature of the target material transmitted from the second output terminal of the flow direction switch device460to the material drainage port404.

The foregoing descriptions regarding the implementations, connections, operations, and related advantages of other corresponding functional blocks of the material dispensing device400ofFIG.4are also applicable to the embodiments inFIG.5throughFIG.9. For the sake of brevity, those descriptions will not be repeated here.

In some embodiments, the material dispensing device400may adopt other mechanisms to evaluate the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400without using any temperature sensor.

For example,FIG.10shows a simplified functional block diagram of the material dispensing device400according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In the material dispensing device400ofFIG.10, the temperature sensor470described previously is omitted. Instead, as shown inFIG.10, the control circuit480of the material dispensing device400further comprises a timer1082.

The timer1082is arranged to operably record a duration of time for operation of a particular component of the material dispensing device400, and to operably generate a corresponding time-length value. In practice, the timer1082may be realized with a physical circuit of the control circuit480or may be realized with any appropriate computer program executed by the control circuit480.

For example, the timer1082may record a duration of time for the operation of the pump110to generate a corresponding time-length value.

For another example, the timer1082may record a duration of time for the flowmeter130outputting the target material to generate a corresponding time-length value.

For yet another example, the timer1082may record a duration of time for the flow direction switch device460outputting the target material to the material drainage port404to generate a corresponding time-length value.

When the fluid material dispensing apparatus100requires the material dispensing device400to add target material to the target container190, the control circuit480presumes that the quality of a portion or all of the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable, and deems a portion or all of the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400as unqualified material. In this situation, the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to block the first output terminal and to guide the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. In this way, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

On the other hand, the control circuit480controls the pump110to operate to extract target material from the corresponding material container180, so that newly extracted target material will be transported from the outlet connector182toward the flow direction switch device460through the material transmission channel. With the continuous operation of the pump110, the unqualified target material inside the material dispensing device400will be pushed to flow forward and gradually discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, while the newly extracted target material will enter and gradually fill the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460.

In operations, the material dispensing device400may need to take a certain time to substantially discharge the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400through the material drainage port404. The control circuit480of this embodiment controls the timer1082to operably record a duration of time for operation of a particular component in the period during which the material dispensing device400outputs the unqualified material through the material drainage port404, and to operably generate a corresponding time-length value. The control circuit480may estimate the progress of discharging unqualified material according to the time-length value generated by the timer1082. From another aspect, the control circuit480is enabled to evaluate the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400according to the time-length value generated by the timer1082.

Specifically, before the time-length value reaches a predetermined value, the control circuit480determines that the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400has not been substantially discharged yet, and thus the control circuit480determines that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable. When the time-length value reaches the predetermined value, the control circuit480determines that the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400has been substantially discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100, and thus the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable. In other words, the control circuit480will determine that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable until the time-length value reaches the predetermined value.

Before the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable (i.e., before the time-length value reaches the predetermined value in this embodiment), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to continue blocking the first output terminal and to continue guiding the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. As a result, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing unqualified target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

Afterwards, when the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable (i.e., when the time-length value reaches the predetermined value in this embodiment), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to guide the target material to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150can dispense qualified target material into the target container190.

The foregoing descriptions regarding the implementations, connections, operations, and related advantages of other corresponding functional blocks of the material dispensing device400inFIG.4throughFIG.9are also applicable to the embodiment ofFIG.10. For the sake of brevity, those descriptions will not be repeated here.

In some embodiments, the material dispensing device400may adopt other mechanisms to estimate the progress of discharging unqualified material through the material drainage port404without using the aforementioned timer1082.

For example,FIG.11andFIG.12show simplified functional block diagrams of the material dispensing device400according to different embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment ofFIG.11, the material dispensing device400further comprises a flowmeter1190. The flowmeter1190is coupled with the control circuit480, and coupled between the second output terminal of the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, and arranged to operably measure a flow of the target material transmitted from the flow direction switch device460to the material drainage port404to generate a measurement value.

When the fluid material dispensing apparatus100requires the material dispensing device400to add target material to the target container190, the control circuit480presumes that the quality of a portion or all of the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable and deems a portion or all of the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400as unqualified material. In this situation, the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to block the first output terminal and to guide the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. In this way, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

On the other hand, the control circuit480controls the pump110to operate to extract target material from the corresponding material container180, so that newly extracted target material will be transported from the outlet connector182toward the flow direction switch device460through the material transmission channel. With the continuous operation of the pump110, the unqualified target material inside the material dispensing device400will be pushed to flow forward and gradually discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, while the newly extracted target material will enter and gradually fill the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460.

In operations, the material dispensing device400may need to take a certain time to substantially discharge the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400through the material drainage port404. The control circuit480of this embodiment controls the flowmeter1190to operably measure a flow of the target material transmitted from the flow direction switch device460to the material drainage port404to generate a measurement value. The control circuit480may estimate the progress of discharging unqualified material according to the measurement value generated by the flowmeter1190. From another aspect, the control circuit480is enabled to evaluate the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400according to the measurement value generated by the flowmeter1190.

Specifically, before the measurement value reaches a predetermined threshold, the control circuit480determines that the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400has not been substantially discharged yet, and thus the control circuit480determines that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable. When the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold, the control circuit480determines that the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400has been substantially discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100, and thus the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable. In other words, the control circuit480will determine that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable until the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold.

Before the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable (i.e., before the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold in this embodiment), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to continue blocking the first output terminal and to continue guiding the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. As a result, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing unqualified target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

Afterwards, when the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable (i.e., when the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold in this embodiment), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to guide the target material to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150can dispense qualified target material into the target container190.

The foregoing descriptions regarding the implementations, connections, operations, and related advantages of other corresponding functional blocks of the material dispensing device400inFIG.4throughFIG.10are also applicable to the embodiment ofFIG.11. For the sake of brevity, those descriptions will not be repeated here.

It can be appreciated form the foregoing descriptions that the material dispensing device400ofFIG.11does not need to utilize any temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the target material, nor does it need to utilize any timer to estimate the progress of discharging unqualified material through the material drainage port404.

FIG.12shows another embodiment of the material dispensing device400. The material dispensing device400ofFIG.12is similar to the material dispensing device400ofFIG.11. However, the arrangement and role of the flowmeter130ofFIG.12are different from the flowmeter130ofFIG.11.

As described previously, the flowmeter130may be arranged at any appropriate position between the outlet connector182and the nozzle150. For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.12, the flowmeter130is coupled between the damper120and the input terminal of the flow direction switch device460, and arranged to operably measure a flow of target material to be dispensed to the target container190.

In another aspect, the flowmeter130ofFIG.12can be utilized to measure a flow of the target material to be transmitted to the flow direction switch device460to generate a measurement value, which is corresponding to the flow of the target material to be outputted from the flow direction switch device460to the material drainage port404.

In the embodiment ofFIG.12, when the fluid material dispensing apparatus100requires the material dispensing device400to add target material to the target container190, the control circuit480presumes that the quality of a portion or all of the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable and deems a portion or all of the fluid material currently inside the material dispensing device400as unqualified material. In this situation, the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to block the first output terminal and to guide the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. In this way, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

On the other hand, the control circuit480controls the pump110to operate to extract target material from the corresponding material container180, so that newly extracted target material will be transported from the outlet connector182toward the flow direction switch device460through the material transmission channel. With the continuous operation of the pump110, the unqualified target material inside the material dispensing device400will be pushed to flow forward and gradually discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the flow direction switch device460and the material drainage port404, while the newly extracted target material will enter and gradually fill the material transmission channel between the outlet connector182and the flow direction switch device460.

In operations, the material dispensing device400may need to take a certain time to substantially discharge the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400through the material drainage port404. The control circuit480of this embodiment controls the flowmeter130to operably measure a flow of the target material to be transmitted to the flow direction switch device460to generate a measurement value. The control circuit480may estimate the progress of discharging unqualified material according to the measurement value generated by the flowmeter130. From another aspect, the control circuit480is enabled to evaluate the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400according to the measurement value generated by the flowmeter130.

Specifically, before the measurement value reaches a predetermined threshold, the control circuit480determines that the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400has not been substantially discharged yet, and thus the control circuit480determines that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable. When the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold, the control circuit480determines that the unqualified material inside the material dispensing device400has been substantially discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100, and thus the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable. In other words, the control circuit480will determine that the quality of a portion or all of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is unacceptable until the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold.

Before the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable (i.e., before the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold in this embodiment), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to continue blocking the first output terminal and to continue guiding the target material inside the material dispensing device400to flow toward the material drainage port404through the second output terminal, so that the unqualified target material can be discharged to outside the fluid material dispensing apparatus100through the material drainage port404. As a result, the material dispensing device400can prevent the target nozzle150from dispensing unqualified target material, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

Afterwards, when the control circuit480determines that the quality of the target material currently inside the material dispensing device400is acceptable (i.e., when the measurement value reaches the predetermined threshold in this embodiment), the control circuit480controls the flow direction switch device460to guide the target material to flow toward the target nozzle150through the first output terminal, so that the target nozzle150can dispense qualified target material into the target container190.

The foregoing descriptions regarding the implementations, connections, operations, and related advantages of other corresponding functional blocks of the material dispensing device400inFIG.4throughFIG.11are also applicable to the embodiment ofFIG.12. For the sake of brevity, those descriptions will not be repeated here.

It can be appreciated form the foregoing descriptions that the material dispensing device400ofFIG.12does not need to utilize any temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the target material, nor does it need to utilize any timer to estimate the progress of discharging unqualified material through the material drainage port404.

In some embodiments where the fluid material dispensing apparatus100is utilized as an automated beverage preparation apparatus, a user may place a target container190on an appropriate position beneath the aforementioned multiple nozzles150and manipulate the control panel109to configure one or more production parameters for the required freshly made beverages, such as beverage item, cup size, beverage volume, sugar level, ice level, and/or quantity of cups, or the like.

Then, the material dispensing devices400of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100would automatically discharge some fluid materials, whose quality may be deteriorated, through the material drainage port404, and operate based on the parameters configured by the user to automatically utilize one or more pumps110to extract the fluid materials from one or more material containers180, and to transmit the extracted fluid materials toward corresponding nozzles150through respective transmission pipes. With the continuous operation of the respective pump, qualified fluid materials will be dispensed to the target container190through corresponding nozzles150.

Freshly made beverages of a variety of flavors can be obtained by mixing different fluid materials together in the target container190according to a particular ratio, or by simple stirring after mixing the fluid materials. In practice, the target container190may be designed to support or have a blending functionality to increase the speed and uniformity of mixing the fluid materials.

In the embodiment where the fluid material dispensing apparatus100is utilized as a sauce dispensing apparatus, the user may place the target container190on an appropriate position beneath the aforementioned multiple nozzles150and manipulate the control panel109to configure species and output amount of related sauce to be dispensed.

Similarly, the material dispensing devices400of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100would automatically discharge some fluid materials, whose quality may be deteriorated, through the material drainage port404, and operate based on the parameters configured by the user to automatically utilizes one or more pumps110to extract the fluid materials from one or more material containers180, and to transmit the extracted fluid materials toward corresponding nozzles150through respective transmission pipes. With the continuous operation of the respective pump, the fluid material dispensing apparatus100is enabled to output a specific amount of one or more sauces of an acceptable quality to the target container190through corresponding nozzle150.

Accordingly, the disclosed fluid material dispensing apparatus100is capable of accurately controlling the material output volume of respective fluid materials, and thus it is enabled to maintain the taste consistency of resulting freshly made beverages.

In addition, the material dispensing device400automatically discards unqualified materials to exclude unqualified materials when making beverages. As a result, the material dispensing device400can prevent the nozzles150from dispensing unqualified target materials, whose quality may be deteriorated, into the target container190.

From another perspective, the fluid material dispensing apparatus100is enabled to ensure that the quality and freshness of the resulting beverages meets requirements.

Furthermore, the disclosed fluid material dispensing apparatus100is enabled to operate based on the parameters configured by the user to automatically utilize multiple material dispensing devices400to output extracted fluid materials to the target container190through corresponding nozzles150, so as to achieve the automatic preparation of freshly made beverages. Therefore, the disclosed fluid material dispensing apparatus100not only effectively reduces the time and cost required for personnel training, but also significantly reduces the labor time required for the preparation of the freshly made beverages.

Please note that the component structure and connections between components of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100in the aforementionedFIG.4throughFIG.21are merely exemplary embodiments, rather than a restriction to the practical implementations of the fluid material dispensing apparatus100.

For example, the flow direction switch device460may be instead arranged between the outlet connector182and the damper device120.

For another example, the flow direction switch device460may be instead arranged between the outlet connector182and the pump110.

For another example, the flow direction switch device460may be instead arranged between the damper device120and the pump110.

For another example, the flow direction switch device460may be instead arranged between the damper device120and the flowmeter130.

For another example, in some embodiments, the flowmeter130may be omitted, and the material dispensing device400may utilize other approaches to measure the amount of fluid material to be dispensed to the target container190. In one embodiment, the material dispensing device400may utilize a timer to operably record a duration of time for operation of a particular component (e.g., the pump110or the damper device120), and to operably generate a corresponding time-length value. The control circuit480of the material dispensing device400may estimate the output amount of the fluid material according to the time-length value generated by the timer. In another embodiment, the material dispensing device400may utilize a weight scale to measure changes in the weight of the target container190, and the control circuit480of the material dispensing device400may calculate the output amount of the fluid material based on the measurement results of the weight scale.

Certain terms are used throughout the description and the claims to refer to particular components. One skilled in the art appreciates that a component may be referred to by different names. This disclosure does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not in function. In the description and in the claims, the term “comprise” is used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to.” The term “couple” is intended to encompass any indirect or direct connection. For example, if this disclosure mentioned that a first circuit is coupled with a second circuit, it means that the first circuit may be directly or indirectly connected to the second circuit through electrical connections, wireless communications, optical communications, or other signal connections with/without other intermediate devices or connection means.

The term “and/or” may comprise any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In addition, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” herein are intended to comprise the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Throughout the description and claims, the term “element” contains the concept of component, layer, or region.

In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of some elements may be exaggerated or simplified for clarity. Accordingly, unless the context clearly specifies, the shape, size, relative size, and relative position of each element in the drawings are illustrated merely for clarity, and not intended to be used to restrict the claim scope.

For the purpose of explanatory convenience in the specification, spatially relative terms, such as “on,” “above,” “below,” “beneath,” “higher,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “forward,” “backward,” and the like, may be used herein to describe the function of a particular element or to describe the relationship of one element to other element(s) as illustrated in the drawings. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the element in use, in operations, or in assembly in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the element in the drawings is turned over, elements described as “on” or “above” other elements would then be oriented “under” or “beneath” the other elements. Thus, the exemplary term “beneath” can encompass both an orientation of above and beneath. For another example, if the element in the drawings is reversed, the action described as “forward” may become “backward,” and the action described as “backward” may become “forward.” Thus, the exemplary description “forward” can encompass both an orientation of forward and backward.

Throughout the description and claims, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “positioned on,” “positioned above,” “connected to,” “engaged with,” or “coupled with” another element, it can be directly on, directly connected to, or directly engaged with the other element, or intervening element may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly engaged with” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims.