DRINKS PREPARATION MACHINE

Abstract

The drinks preparation machine includes a pump for delivering the preparation fluid—generally water—into a brewing chamber, which receives the portion package, as well as a flow-meter for measuring the fluid flow into the brewing chamber. Machine electronics activate the pump and acquire the results of flow rate measurement, in order for example to switch off the pump after reaching a defined delivered fluid quantity. The electronics are configured to evaluate the measured flow rate and from this evaluation to make a differentiation between a first state “brewing with an inserted portion package” and a second state “water throughflow without inserted portion package”, in order to detect the presence of a portion package in the brewing chamber.

Claims

1. A drinks preparation machine, comprising a brewing module for forming a brewing chamber which is designed for receiving a portion package with a drinks substance, a pump for delivering a preparation fluid through a fluid conduit into the brewing chamber, a flow-meter which is arranged on the fluid conduit, as well as machine electronics for controlling the pump and for acquiring measurement data of the flow meter, wherein the machine electronics are configured to evaluate the measurement data of the flow-meter and from this evaluation to make a differentiation between a first state which corresponds to a state with a portion package inserted into the brewing chamber, and a second state which corresponds to a state without a portion package inserted into the brewing chamber, in order to detect the presence or absence of a portion package in the brewing chamber.

2. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine electronics comprise a counter of drinks preparations, which after the activation of a drinks preparation process is increased by a value only if the first state has been determined.

3. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine electronics are configured to compare the measured flow rate with a threshold value, and to conclude the first state if the flow rate lies below the threshold value and the second state if the flow rate lies above the threshold value or corresponds to the threshold value

4. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 3, wherein the flow rate which is measured in a predefined temporal interval to an activation of a drinks preparation process is compared to the threshold value.

5. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 3, wherein the flow rate is compared to the threshold value which has been measured after reaching a predefined delivery volume.

6. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 3, wherein a flow rate which is integrated over a time interval is used for the comparison with the threshold value.

7. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the electronics comprise a communication module, in order to exchange data with a network and/or directly with an external device.

8. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 7, wherein the machine electronics are configured to transfer a result of the evaluation to the external device or to a service which can be reached via the network.

9. A system, comprising a drinks preparation machine according to claim 7, as well as software that can be installed on an external device which can be brought into communication connection with the drinks preparation machine in a direct manner, or on an external computer which can be brought into communication connection with the drinks preparation machine via the network, said software enabling this device or this computer to lead data on the number of drinks preparations which are carried out by the drinks preparation machine.

10. A method for operating a drinks preparation machine, in particular according to claim 1, for preparing a drink from a drinks substance which is contained in a portion package, with a brewing module for forming a brewing chamber for the portion package, wherein water is fed to the brewing chamber by way of a pump and the flow of the fed water is measured, wherein the measured flow rate is evaluated and a differentiation between a first state which corresponds to a state with a portion package inserted into the brewing chamber, and a second state which corresponds to a state without a portion package inserted into the brewing chamber is made from this evaluation, in order to detect the presence or absence of a portion package in the brewing chamber.

11. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 2, wherein the machine electronics are configured to compare the measured flow rate with a threshold value, and to conclude the first state if the flow rate lies below the threshold value and the second state if the flow rate lies above the threshold value or corresponds to the threshold value

12. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 11, wherein the flow rate which is measured in a predefined temporal interval to an activation of a drinks preparation process is compared to the threshold value.

13. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 11, wherein the flow rate is compared to the threshold value which has been measured after reaching a predefined delivery volume.

14. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 4, wherein a flow rate which is integrated over a time interval is used for the comparison with the threshold value.

15. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 5, wherein a flow rate which is integrated over a time interval is used for the comparison with the threshold value.

16. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 11, wherein a flow rate which is integrated over a time interval is used for the comparison with the threshold value.

17. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 12, wherein a flow rate which is integrated over a time interval is used for the comparison with the threshold value.

18. A drinks preparation machine according to claim 13, wherein a flow rate which is integrated over a time interval is used for the comparison with the threshold value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiment examples of the invention are described hereinafter by way of figures. In the figures, equal reference numerals denote the same or analogous elements. There are shown in:

[0026] FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a drinks preparation machine, in particular of a coffee machine;

[0027] FIG. 2 a delivery volume—time diagram;

[0028] FIG. 3 a flow rate—time diagram; and

[0029] FIG. 4 a flow rate—delivery volume diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a drinks preparation machine, in particular of a coffee machine. The water feed includes a water tank 1 and a fluid conduit, specifically a feed conduit 2 from the water tank to a brewing module 10. The water is delivered by a pump 5 and flows through a water heater—here drawn as a continuous flow heater 7—before it flows into the brewing module. A flow-meter 3 is arranged upstream of the pump and measures the flow rate of water through the feed conduit and, since the feed conduit 2 does not branch downstream of the flow-meter, hence also measures the fluid flow into the brewing module 10. With a flow-meter of the type “positive displacement flow-meter”, such as for example a vane-type flow-meter, such a measurement is effected by way of volume units being counted and—for example in the machine electronics, see below, or in its own electronics—a flow rate being determined by way of the division of the volume units by a time unit.

[0031] The arrangement of the flow-meter upstream of the pump has the advantage that the flow-meter is not arranged in the region that is under pressure and also not in the hot region. However, given a suitable design of the flow-meter, an arrangement downstream of the pump in the flow direction or even downstream of the water heater or in the water heater is not to be ruled out a priori. The integration of the flow-meter into the pump is also an option. At all events, it should be arranged such that the flow rate, which is measured by it (directly or for example, given the mentioned vane-type flow-meter, indirectly via an evaluation by the electronics), permits the determining of the fluid flow into the brewing chamber, which is formed given a closed brewing module and which possibly contains the inserted capsule 20. The fluid quantity that flows per unit of time, represented for example as a volume or mass per unit of time, is denoted as the flow rate (at the location of the flow-meter) or fluid flow (into the brewing chamber).

[0032] As is known per se, the brewing module includes an injector 11 for introducing water into a portion capsule 20, as well as a discharge device 12 (or extraction device) for leading the fluid out of the capsule 20 into a pour-out 13.

[0033] The machine includes electronics 9, which, apart from a control S for the machine and an optional communication module C and an input unit or optionally input/output unit I/O, also forms an evaluation unit A. These individual functions can be present integrated into separate modules that are at least partly in communication connection with one another, or in a common data processing and input/output unit. The elements such as the input/output unit, which can include buttons or the like and/or a touch-sensitive screen not explained in more detail here since they are known for drinks preparation machines and are not the subject-matter of the present invention.

[0034] The electronics 9 activate the pump 5 and possibly also the water heater. The flow rate values, which are measured by the flow-meter 3, as well as possibly the temperature values, which are determined by an optional temperature sensor 8 serve as input variables for the control.

[0035] Such a temperature sensor 8 as is drawn can be arranged in contact with the feed conduit 2 subsequent to the water heater, in the water heater itself or on the water heater. The control can be configured such that it forms a control loop for the temperature, by way of the water heater being controlled such that the temperature which is measured by the temperature sensor 8 always moves within a certain window. The inclusion of other measurement values, specifically the measured flow rate is also possible for the closed-loop control of the temperature.

[0036] Further input variables can be led to the electronics 9 and influence the control, amongst these parameters and/or programmings which are inputted by the user.

[0037] The delivery volume V as a function of time is plotted by way of example in FIG. 2 (reference numeral 30). It is particularly at the beginning of the process, in FIG. 2 in the region that is encircled in a dashed manner, that a characteristic course that is used for the subsequently described evaluation results.

[0038] The result of the flow rate measurement is used for the evaluation. As is schematically drawn in FIG. 3, the flow rate 31 dV/dt, i.e. the delivery volume V per unit of time, given a constant pump power, as a function of time t can drop shortly after switching on the pump, since the capsule (or other portion package) fills with fluid and forms a throughflow resistance. The precise course and the extent of the flow rate reduction can depend on the capsule, in particular the contents (grinding fineness, filled quantity etc) as well as the capsule material, the nature of the capsule and the nature of the brewing module which receives the capsule; a significant reduction will however always be ascertained.

[0039] If no capsule is inserted, then the flow rate in contrast remains roughly constant (graph 32) or as a function of time only drops later and to a less pronounced manner, since indeed no flow resistance is generated due to extraction material (or possibly extract), which is present in the portion package.

[0040] This can be used for the evaluation. One possibility is to examine, after for example an empirically determined time t.sub.1, whether the flow rate is above or below a threshold value F.sub.S which for example is likewise determined empirically: if the flow rate is below the threshold value, a capsule is present.

[0041] As in all embodiments described in this text, given a determined presence of a capsule (or other portion package) during the process, the count value. which is acquired in a counter Z (FIG. 1), is increased by one. If not, no capsule is counted.

[0042] When required, this method can be made even more robust by way of a flow rate that is integrated over a time span [t.sub.2, t.sub.3]—i.e. the delivery volume that is delivered between two points in time t.sub.2 and t.sub.3—or equivalently an average value, for example the arithmetic mean, from several flow rate measurements as a comparative variable being used instead of the flow rate at a certain point in time t.sub.1. If this comparative variable lies above a certain threshold value, then no capsule is inserted. Another possibility is for a flow rate difference, i.e. a flow rate reduction between two points in time, or a temporal derivative of the flow rate being evaluated. Combinations are also possible.

[0043] In some drinks preparation machines, there is a certain temporal lack of definition, which could originate from the tolerances in the capsule characteristics and which leads to the precise point in time at which the capsule begins to fill with fluid not being known during the capsule opening phase (the capsule is pierced for example, in order to introduce the water).

[0044] For such situations, as an alternative to the evaluation as a function of time, it is suggested to evaluate the flow rate as a function of the already delivered volume V (delivery volume), which is sketched in FIG. 4. The flow rate 41 after reaching a certain value also markedly reduces as a function of the delivered volume when a capsule is inserted. This is not the case without an inserted capsule (graph 42).

[0045] With this alternative too, there is firstly the possibility of comparing the flow rate, which is measured after the delivery of a certain volume V.sub.1, with a threshold value F.sub.S: if the flow rate is smaller than the threshold value, a capsule is inserted, otherwise not. Depending on the portion package—which as a coffee capsule will generally have a filling quantity of between 6 g and 10 g—the volume V.sub.1 at which a particularly good differentiation is made can be at a fixed value between approx. 12 ml and approx 25 ml, in particular at a value between 15 ml and 20 ml.

[0046] The variants described above for the evaluation as a function of time also exist for the evaluation as a function of the volume. For example, one can evaluate how much time passes between the point in time at which a defined volume V.sub.2 has been reached and the point in time at which another defined volume V.sub.3 has been reached, or a flow rate difference or a temporal derivative or a derivative ∂F/∂V of the flow rate according to the delivery volume can be compared.

[0047] The procedure according to the present invention is particularly advantageous in combination with a possibility for the drinks preparation machine of exchanging data with another device and/or a network, i.e. with a communication module of the electronics, which also becomes clear from the subsequent explanations.

[0048] The results of the counting which is based on the evaluation can be used for example as follows:

[0049] Firstly, the drinks preparation machine can use the counting of the executed drinks preparations for maintenance purposes. For this, one can for example envisage the user being prompted into carrying out a cleaning and/or a descaling or the like after a certain number of counted drinks preparations. The number of drinks preparations can also be read out and provide a service technician with indications that a certain part is to be exchanged, etc.

[0050] Secondly, the counting of the drinks preparations can be used for a monitoring of the inventory of portion packages. For this, according to a first option data on the inventory is read into the drinks preparation machine, for example after a purchase. This can be effected automatically if the purchase has been carried out with electronic aids, for example as an online order. The result of the counting then permits a monitoring of the inventory and the drinks preparation machine can for example inform the user when the inventory is in danger of running out and/or can immediately provide an ordering possibility. For this purpose, for example a dedicated key can be present on the machine, said key activating an ordering of a defined basket of portion packages, or such an order can be effected via a menu input.

[0051] According to a second option, such an inventory management is effected outside the drinks preparation machine, for example in an external device 51 (in particular mobile telephone) and/or via a network 52, on a server or in the cloud. For this purpose, with each drinks preparation, at regular intervals or given certain events, the drinks preparation machine can transfer the number of executed drinks preparations to the external device or to the network. Depending on the settings which have been carried out by the user, a re-ordering can be activated automatically, or the user can be made aware of the low stock and a possibility of ordering, in a suitable manner—optionally also via the drinks preparation machine.

[0052] Thirdly, the counting can also be used for promotion and/or customer relation purposes. For example, the machine can transfer the information in a direct manner and/or via an external device 51 to a network 52, according to which again a certain number of drinks preparations have been carried out. This can then activate the dispatch of a loyalty gift, an offer or the like to the user, depending on the carried out settings in a direct manner, depending on further events, etc.