Material dispensing device for automated beverage preparation apparatus
A material dispensing device, a material output volume detecting device, and a related damper device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus are disclosed. The material output volume detecting device includes: a damper device arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing therethrough; and a flowmeter arranged to operably measure the flow of liquid material outputted from the damper device. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.
1. A material dispensing device ( 400 ) of an automated beverage preparation apparatus ( 100 ), the material dispensing device ( 400 ) comprising:
a pump ( 110 ), comprising a material inlet ( 412 ) and a material outlet ( 414 ), wherein the pump ( 110 ) is arranged to operably pressure liquid material received through the material inlet ( 412 ) to push the liquid material to the material outlet ( 414 );
a damper device ( 120 ), arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing through the damper device ( 120 );
a flowmeter ( 130 ), coupled with the damper device ( 120 ), arranged to operably measure a flow of the liquid material outputted from the damper device ( 120 ); and
a material output tube ( 140 );
wherein the damper device ( 120 ) comprises:
a damper base ( 420 ), comprising a material entrance hole ( 421 ), a material exit hole ( 423 ), and a material buffer chamber ( 425 ) located between the material entrance hole ( 421 ) and the material exit hole ( 423 ), wherein the material entrance hole ( 421 ) is arranged to operably transmit received liquid material to the material buffer chamber ( 425 ), the material buffer chamber ( 425 ) is arranged to temporarily store the liquid material flowing into the material buffer chamber ( 425 ), and the material exit hole ( 423 ) is arranged to operably transmit the liquid material passed through the material buffer chamber ( 425 ) toward the flowmeter ( 130 );
a block element ( 429 ), positioned in the material buffer chamber ( 425 ) and located in a straight path between the material entrance hole ( 421 ) and the material exit hole ( 423 ), arranged to operably prevent the liquid material from directly flowing from the material entrance hole ( 421 ) to the material exit hole ( 423 ) in a straight line path;
a diaphragm ( 430 ), covered on the material buffer chamber ( 425 ); and
a fastening element ( 440 ), positioned on the diaphragm ( 430 ) and having a hollow portion ( 442 );
wherein when a volume of the liquid material within the material buffer chamber ( 425 ) exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm ( 430 ) deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm ( 430 ) enters the hollow portion ( 442 ) of the fastening element ( 440 ).
2. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 1 , wherein the damper device ( 120 further comprises:
a restriction element ( 450 ), positioned on the fastening element ( 440 ), arranged to operably restrain a degree of deformation of the diaphragm ( 430 ).
3. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 2 , wherein when the diaphragm ( 430 ) deforms to protrude outward, a part of the diaphragm ( 430 ) enters the hollow portion ( 442 ), but does not exceed the restriction element ( 450 ).
4. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 2 , wherein the material inlet ( 412 ) of the pump ( 110 ) is arranged to operably receive liquid material transmitted from a material container ( 180 ), the material entrance hole ( 421 ) of the damper device ( 120 ) is arranged to operably receive the liquid material transmitted from the material outlet ( 414 ) of the pump ( 110 ), and the material output tube ( 140 ) is arranged to operably transmit the liquid material passed through the flowmeter ( 130 ).
5. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 2 , wherein the material entrance hole ( 421 ) of the damper device ( 120 ) is arranged to operably receive liquid material transmitted from a material container ( 180 ), the material inlet ( 412 ) of the pump ( 110 ) is arranged to operably receive the liquid material passed through the flowmeter ( 130 ), and the material output tube ( 140 ) is arranged to operably transmit the liquid material transmitted from the material outlet ( 414 ) of the pump ( 110 ).
6. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 2 , further comprising:
a duck bill valve ( 150 ), coupled with the material output tube ( 140 ), arranged to operably output the liquid material transmitted from the material output tube ( 140 ).
7. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 6 , wherein an output portion of the duck bill valve ( 150 ) is elastic.
8. The material dispensing device ( 400 ) of claim 7 , wherein when the material dispensing device ( 400 ) ends a current material output operation, the pump ( 110 ) is further arranged to operably reverse operation for a predetermined period of time to generate a negative pressure within the duck bill valve ( 150 ), so as to render an output aperture of the duck bill valve ( 150 ) to be closed.