Me and a team were approached of an idea to create a smart K-cup (coffee cup) storage device, that stores K-cups, and is able to retrieve a single cup among user request. We have a 3d printer, so we can 3d print, we just are not sure how to approach.
We did come across an idea to put the K-cups in some sort of circular line (so that the device cycles between K-cups, until it gets to the correct one), but we aren't sure how we would design this. We don't need any software help with this, just help creating the device.
Decide how many cups you need to feed. A carousel works, but gets big in a hurry. A chute feed is easier and gives a higher density but you'll need a chute for each flavor.
Ive got free 3d stuff for Arduino over on cults3d.com
(1) a column of kcups in a known order that can move up and down. The request is placed, the desired kcup in the column is positioned next to a servo arm, the servo arm extracts the requested kcup, the column of kcups drops to fill the void, then the column lowers until the kcup column is below the servo arm height. The servo arm then moves the requested kcup on top of the stack and the stack is then moved up until the requested kcup emerges from the stack.
(2) have the servo arm ride up and down a static column of kcups and knock-out the requested kcup to fall down a tube and land near the operator.
I was thinking more of an idea where each K-cup is placed inside of a capsule, and it cycles through locations inside of a box, so that the user can input K-cups by the machine directing the user to an empty capsule to place the cup in. I just don't know how I can achieve that goal.
To make sure that I understand correctly: this is not a "vending machine" type device, dispensing unused cups, but rather is a device for storing and retrieving cups, between uses?
How about a mechanism that has a bin that you dump random flavored k-cups into, that loads a carosel, that the user can index until their selected flavor appears, and press "brew" from there?
In the Beginning, Keurig created the K-cup machine. They fought knock-off cup-makers by coding the ink (not the printing) on the lids of the kcups so the machines would only work with OEM cups. It might be nice to bring back that tech, so people (like me who can't read on the morning-after) don't get stuck with suntan-oil-flavored coffee.
