Spice rack

Design

Automatically dispense measured spices. Load sensor to measure how much is dispensed. I'm not sure if it would be cheaper to put a small motor on each output or do some sort of multiplexing. I do want to make sure that the whole thing is top-loading, bottom-dispensing.

One microcontroller will directly control the rack - which spice to dispense, how much to dispense including the weight difference calculation.

The big challenge is UI. It needs to be able to take a recipe or specific request. I'll probably want to put a simple web-server in place to manage this. The question is how to do this; I could put something like a rasPi in the spice rack and have it run a server. Or I could just add an FTDI chip and have it read commands right off the network - but this still comes with the complication that I need to give it a password.

ALTERNATE: Instead of wifi (if I can get voice working), I could have an SD slot and load configuration and recipes there.

As I'm looking at this option, it may be the most practical - I can add voice control. This would allow me to make simple requests (1/2 teaspoon salt) and input a wifi password.

Simple, but really cool detail - you need to put a bowl or something on the scale to collect the spices. This will be how you turn it on. Put a bowl in place, give it commands, pick up the bowl, and it goes into a 'low power' mode until you put another bowl back.

A simpler control design would be 3 controls, one for quantity, 1 for unit and one for spice. I could use button, multi-position switches or rotary encoders. A little lcd display to show the readout and a button for "Go". Maybe dual mode so that I can still encode the recipes, and flip through them (and add a multiplier).

Trickler Design

Each spice container will have a powder trickler at the bottom with an exposed drive wheel. At the center, we have 3 motors. One spins the whole thing to select a spice. A linear actuator moves a stepper in contact with the drive wheel. This should make the individual containers fairly cheap. The design can either be radial or axial. I'm leaning towards axial, it will be fairly long (~3 ft) but neither tall nor deep.

A miniature version of this may work well.

Funnel: http://www.amazon.com/Karter-Scientific-210R3-Plastic-Funnels/dp/B005Z4RKYU/

I can use drill bits as the auger - I was finding them on ebay for less than $1 a piece (in sets).

I may even be able to design (or buy) a simple twist lock; the linear motor lifts the stepper. To drive an auger, drop the motor on top of the auger mechanism and start rotating one direction, the lock will move until it catches at which point it will drive the auger. To remove, drive in reverse and lift at the same time.

Worm drive motors are as low as $1.20.

Spices

• salt
• basil
• oregano
• cinnamon
• baking soda
• baking powder
• ginger
• nutmeg
• paprika
• black pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• cayenne
• cloves

So maybe plan on 15

Staples

If it works, I may build a second for staples:

• white flour
• whole flour
• white sugar
• brown sugar
• rice