ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BEVERAGE MAKER (PREFERABLY COFFEE MACHINE) HAVING DYNAMIC MAINTENANCE PLAN GENERATION

Abstract

An electrically operated beverage maker, in particular electrically operated coffee machine, having at least one component which is subjected to wear and tear and hence maintenance-relevant, wherein at least one load parameter which characterises an actual wear and tear of the maintenance-relevant component can be determined, and in that at least one reliability parameter of the maintenance-relevant component can be calculated, taking into account the specific load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component.

Claims

1. An electrically operated beverage maker, in particular electrically operated coffee machine, having at least one component which is subjected to wear and tear and hence maintenance-relevant, wherein at least one load parameter which characterises an actual wear and tear of the maintenance-relevant component can be determined and at least one load parameter which characterises an actual wear and tear of the maintenance-relevant component can be determined and in that at least one reliability parameter of the maintenance-relevant component can be calculated, taking into account the specific load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component.

2. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein, in addition to the specific load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component, also an actual operational duration of the maintenance-relevant component or an operational duration characteristic number which characterises this actual operational duration can be determined by means of the beverage maker, the at least one reliability parameter of the maintenance-relevant component being able to be calculated taking into account also the determined actual operational duration or the operational duration characteristic number characterising this.

3. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein, when determining the load parameters and/or when calculating the reliability parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component(s), also one or more prescribed property (properties) of the component(s) can be taken into account.

4. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component(s) can be determined on the basis of one or more operational parameter(s) detected by the beverage maker and/or in that the load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component(s) can be determined on the basis of one or more sensor(s) of the beverage maker.

5. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of maintenance-relevant components, for which respectively one or more load parameter which characterises the respective component can be determined, and for which respectively one or more reliability parameter(s) of the respective component can be calculated from the determined load parameter(s).

6. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the maintenance-relevant components, at least one maintenance instruction for this maintenance-relevant component can be generated from the calculated reliability parameter(s) thereof, and preferably can also be issued by the beverage maker, in particular can be displayed on a display of the beverage maker.

7. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the reliability parameter(s) of at least one maintenance-relevant component takes into account one or more environmental condition(s).

8. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the load parameter(s) of one or more maintenance-relevant component(s) and/or the calculation of the reliability parameter(s) of one or more maintenance-relevant component(s) is effected in the beverage maker itself, in particular in a central control unit of the same, or in that a transmission of data necessary for the determination of the load parameter(s) of one or more maintenance-relevant component(s) and/or for the calculation of the reliability parameter(s) of one or more maintenance-relevant component(s) to an external computing device is effected and in that, after said transmission, the determination of the load parameter(s) of one or more maintenance-relevant component(s) and/or the calculation of the reliability parameter(s) of one or more maintenance-relevant component(s) is effected in this external computing device, before a transmission of the determination- and/or calculation results to the beverage maker, in particular to a central control unit of the same, is effected.

9. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein one, several or all the maintenance-relevant component(s) include: one or more grinder(s), one or more motor(s), one or more pump(s), one or more seal(s) one or more valve(s), one or more display element(s), one or more operating element(s) (2e), one or more water filter(s), one or more cooling element(s), in particular fan(s) and/or one or more outlet/outlets.

10. A method for operating an electrically operated beverage maker, which has one or more component(s) which are subjected to wear and tear and hence maintenance-relevant, wherein, for the one or more maintenance-relevant component(s), respectively one or more load parameter(s) which characterises/characterise an actual wear and tear of the respective maintenance-relevant component is/are calculated, and in that, for the one or more maintenance-relevant component(s), respectively at least one reliability parameter is calculated, taking into account the specific load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component(s), preferably the method being used for the generation of maintenance instruction(s) about the maintenance-relevant component(s), particularly preferably for the prognostication of (a) maintenance time/times for the maintenance-relevant component(s).

Description

[0036] There are thereby shown:

[0037] FIG. 1 the basic construction of a coffee machine according to the invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 the procedure of the invention when determining reliability parameters.

[0039] FIG. 3 an example of the assessment according to the invention of the maintenance requirement of components with phase division.

[0040] FIG. 4 an example of a reliability parameter according to the invention in the form of a breakdown probability per unit of time as a function of the operational time of the corresponding component.

[0041] FIG. 5a an example of a possible maintenance event according to the invention with fixed temporal intervals of the maintenance intervals with variable maintenance range according to the maintenance process.

[0042] FIG. 5b a further example in which maintenance or the maintenance range is strictly prescribed respectively according to the maintenance procedure, the time intervals between the individual maintenance procedures are however, according to the invention, calculated differently according to the maintenance requirement (starting from the determined load parameter(s)) (dynamic maintenance).

[0043] FIG. 5c an example of calculation of the next maintenance time after evaluation of the first, fixed timespan from FIG. 5b.

[0044] FIG. 5d a calculation according to the invention of maintenance procedures in which both the time intervals of the individual maintenance procedures and the maintenance range thereof are calculated or varied.

[0045] FIG. 6: examples of breakdown probabilities per time interval as a function of the operational time for various components which can be taken into account, according to the invention, when calculating the reliability parameters of the components.

[0046] FIGS. 7a and 7b examples of base indicators in maintenance-relevant components which can be taken into account when calculating reliability parameters of the components.

[0047] FIGS. 8a and 8b examples of reliability parameters calculated according to the invention and user- or device-specific parameters derived therefrom.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows the construction of a coffee machine 1 according to the invention in a simplified diagram. The basic elements of the coffee machine 1 according to the invention, which do not relate to the present invention, are described on pages 9 up to and including 11 of WO 2013/117362 A1, so that these three description pages, with their entire disclosure content, are jointly included in the embodiment of the present application. The maintenance-relevant components of the present invention which are subjected to wear and tear and which are considered in the present embodiment are thereby the grinder 2a (corresponds to the grinder 21 in WO 2013/117362 A1), the drive motor 2b of the grinder 2a (reference number 22 in WO 2013/117362 A1), the pump 2c (corresponding to reference number 31 in WO 2013/117362 A1) for the boiler 28 of the coffee machine 1, the optical display 2d (corresponds to the display 27 in WO 2013/117362 A1) and the operating unit with push buttons 2e of the coffee machine 1 (corresponds to the operating unit 26 in WO 2013/117362 A1). The maintenance-relevant component 2d or the display is provided here in parallel with the reference number 6 since it is here, on the one hand, itself a maintenance-relevant component, however on the other hand, also serves for issuing maintenance instructions for all maintenance-relevant components 2a to 2e. The unit comprising display 2d or 6 and operating unit 2e is characterised with the reference number 25.

[0049] The components (cf. pages 9 to 11 of WO 2013/117362 A1), which are not crucial for the present invention, are as follows: sieve support 11, sieve support mounting 12, handle 13 of the sieve support 11, outlet opening 14 of the sieve support 11, brewing chamber 15, ground coffee 16 (in the sieve support 11), sieve support lock 18, bean container 20, coffee grinder assembly 19 (comprises grinder 2a, drive motor 2b of the same and also bean container 20), chute 23 from the grinder 2a to the sieve support 11, distributer sieve element in the manner of a piston 33, drive unit 32 of the element 33, hot water preparer 28, and also cold water connection of the machine 1 with reference number 29.

[0050] There are crucial, according to the invention, in addition to the maintenance-relevant components 2a to 2e, features 3 to 7 of the coffee machine 1, also described subsequently, and also the computing device 8, external to the coffee machine, and also the bidirectional data line 8a which connects this external computing device 8 to the central control unit 7 of the coffee machine 1 (the connection can thereby be effected via the internet). The central control unit 7 thereby corresponds to the central control unit 24 from WO 2013/117362A1 which is extended by corresponding hardware elements and programs according to the present invention. The reference number 3 designates the load parameters which characterise the actual wear and tear of components 2a to 2e. The reference number 4 designates the reliability parameters of components 2a to 2e which are calculated taking into account the respective load parameters 3 of the maintenance-relevant components 2a to 2e by means of the control unit 7. The reference number 5 designates the actual running times of the maintenance-relevant components 2a to 2e (characterising operational duration characteristic numbers 5 of components 2a to 2e, expressed in the respective running time of the considered component). The load parameters 3, reliability parameters 4 and operational duration characteristic numbers 5 are detected or calculated by the control unit 7 and stored in a not-shown data memory of the control unit 7.

[0051] There is used as load parameter 3 of the drive motor 2b, according to the invention, for example the actually performed electrical work of the motor 2b calculated from the actual current consumption and the actual voltage consumption over the operational duration of the motor 2b. The current consumption and the voltage consumption are thereby used as operational data which are constantly jointly recorded in the memory of the control unit 7 during operation of the machine 1. The electrical work is then calculated from the motor running time, the current consumption during this running time and the voltage consumption during this running time. As reliability parameter 4 of the motor 2b, there is calculated constantly for example according to the invention from the previously mentioned load parameter 3 of the motor 2b, via the running time of the motor 2b with the control unit 7, the (time-dependent) breakdown probability per unit of time of the motor 2b. As soon as this breakdown probability per unit of time exceeds a predefined value, a corresponding warning notification can be given in the display 6 (e.g. drive motor of the grinder worn out. Please notify maintenance service).

[0052] A further example is the display 2d which decreases in the brightness thereof in the course of time. Here, the luminosity of the background illumination of the display 2d is measured as load parameter 3 of the display 2d by means of a photodiode (not shown). Alternatively, this luminosity can also be calculated from the switched-on time and the brightness value adjusted by the user. This load parameter characterises the ageing process of the display 2d. The load parameter 3 of the display 2d can thereby be used directly as reliability parameter 4 of the display 2d: very generally, in the case of a maintenance-relevant component, the reliability parameter 4 can hence also be identical to the load parameter 3 of the observed maintenance-relevant component. As soon as said load parameter 3 or reliability parameter 4 of the display 2d falls below a predefined value (minimum brightness), it can be issued on the display 2d or 6, as maintenance recommendation display unit worn out, please exchange component.

[0053] Likewise, with suitable sensors (not shown) of the coffee machine 1, there can be measured the wear and tear states of the buttons of the operating unit 2e (e.g. with a noise sensor) and also of the pump 2c (e.g. with a pressure sensor) in order to determine suitable load parameters 3 of these components 2c, 2e, from which then suitable reliability parameters 4 for these two components 2c, 2e can be calculated. The same applies for the grinder 2a which can be measured for example with respect to the state of the grinding discs thereof by means of an optical sensor (not shown). In the case of the grinder 2a, in addition to the detected measured values, the quality (e.g. material quality) of the grinding discs can be included in the load parameter 3 of the grinder 2a. Likewise, measurement of brewing pressure and brewing time is possible: if these increase, the fine dust component of the ground coffee has increased, which is an indicator of wear and tear of the grinding discs.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows, on the basis of the determined load parameters 3 and the reliability parameters 4, calculated therefrom, of the maintenance-relevant components 2a to 2e, maintenance plans, breakdown prognoses, quality levels for characterising the instantaneously present component quality etc. can be established, according to the invention, as in the machine according to FIG. 1 (FIG. 2, middle column). Also (via corresponding meter levels which are detected in the control unit 7), the actual operational durations or actually run-through operating cycles of the individual components can thereby be included in the establishment of the maintenance plans, prognoses and/or quality levels (broken-line arrow in FIG. 2). According to FIG. 2, it would also be made easy, when establishing, e.g. a maintenance plan of a component, to take into account exclusively the actual operational duration thereof (FIG. 2 left-hand column): this corresponds to what is already known from the state of the art.

[0055] According to the invention, an electrical beverage maker is made possible, which is capable of planning and prognosticating maintenance deadlines or of implementing a method for planning and prognosis of maintenance deadlines. All calculations (e.g. the load parameters 3 and also the reliability parameters 4, possibly also taking into account operational duration characteristic numbers 5 of components 2a to 2e) can thereby be implemented in the control unit 7 of the machine 1 itself. However, it is likewise also possible that only base data are detected by the machine 1 itself and are transmitted via the bidirectional data line 8a (e.g. via the internet) to an outsourced system (central server 8). In the system 8, the corresponding calculations are then implemented and the calculation results, in particular the maintenance instructions determined from the calculated reliability parameters, can be transmitted via the bidirectional data line 8a back to the machine 1 for display on the display 6 thereof. This has the advantage that the calculation of the reliability parameters or of the maintenance information or maintenance prognoses derived therefrom can be adapted according to the latest knowledge respectively on the external server 8 without the programming of the central control unit 7 of the machine 1 requiring to be changed correspondingly at the installation location of the machine 1. (Of course, it is however also possible to change this programming per remote maintenance via the bidirectional data line 8a in the machine 1).

[0056] According to the invention, a maintenance requirement of components 2a to 2e can hence be calculated via the respective actual loading thereof, e.g. in the form of wear and tear functions. A maintenance requirement of a maintenance-relevant component can be planned individually by means of one or more reliability parameter(s) assigned to the component. Maintenance ranges and/or maintenance frequencies can be established thereby by target specifications of maintenance costs and/or reliability requirements (e.g. cumulative reliability- or quality level of the machine 1). For calculation of reliability parameters of components, suitable curve functions can thereby be used.

[0057] According to the invention, calculation of breakdown prognoses and/or of maintenance times is possible on the machine 1 itself or with the help of an external system 8. Calculated maintenance times and maintenance ranges can be used for planning service intervals and for planning a service network for sold coffee machines 1. Also previously detected operational data can be included in a future maintenance planning via interpolation. Also in the case of producing a prognosis, an altered use behaviour can be taken into account (e.g. different operation of coffee machines in the summer- and in the winter half-year). Different maintenance instructions can be generated from the calculated reliability parameters of different maintenance-relevant components: thus, e.g. for an operating unit of a coffee machine installed inside a building, a different maintenance instruction can be generated than for a coffee machine which is installed outside. Calculations of reliability parameters or of reliability- or quality levels of different components (or of the entire device 1) can be effected in the case of an assumed maintenance deadline. In particular for detecting the actual wear and tear of the maintenance-relevant components, sensors (e.g. noise sensors, pressure sensors, . . . ) can be used.

[0058] Hence, according to the invention, for example maintenance of the grinder 2a can be effected taking into account the actual loading of this grinder (which can be different from other components of the machine 1): thus for example, the loading of a grinder or mill thereof is, on the one hand, dependent upon how often the grinder is in fact used (often a plurality of grinders 2a are incorporated into the machine 1 and then have different running times according to the drinks distribution), however, on the other hand, also dependent upon with what actual power (current consumptionvoltage consumption) the grinder is operated over what time (indicated e.g. in Wh). As further characteristic number which is involved in the load parameter of the grinder, for example the type of beans used (hard, foreign body content, bean quality) can be taken into account jointly since this also influences the wear and tear on the grinding discs).

[0059] According to the invention, determination of reliability parameters of maintenance-relevant components of a beverage maker can be effected on the basis of load factors of the components (which can be determined for example via sensors or can also be read out of the operational data of the machine). In addition thereto, also purely the meter levels or cycle numbers can be taken into account: e.g. number of brewing cycles, number of grinder batches, cycle number of valves, running times of motors, drinks meter levels or the like. Also fixed values (such as e.g. the quality of grinding discs, the type of water filter used . . . ) can be taken into account when determining the load parameters or when calculating the reliability parameters. Such fixed values can also be termed machine setup.

[0060] According to the invention, load parameters (load factors) which characterise the actual wear and tear of maintenance-relevant components are taken into account in the calculation of the reliability parameters of the components (e.g. quality level). For example, a seal ages significantly faster with increasing temperature. With the (measured or indirectly determined) temperature course on the seal over time, this factor or this load parameter can be taken into account in the calculation of the reliability parameter of the seal as maintenance-relevant component. As further factor which is involved in the load parameter of the seal, the pressure actually prevailing on the seal over time can be taken into account in the calculation of the reliability parameter. Also caustic solutions or acids (for example during cleaning) damage a seal. Taking into account the time duration and frequency of cleaning as additional factor of the load parameter of the seal can likewise be included in calculation of the reliability parameter of the seal. In the case of a motor (e.g. of the grinder 2a), in addition to purely the switched-on time (running time), current monitoring and voltage monitoring is sensible according to the invention: with this, conclusions can be made about the actually performed electrical work of the motor. Furthermore, also e.g. as further factor of the load parameter of the motor, the starting current of the motor can also be involved in the calculation of the reliability parameter of the motor, in order to evaluate the motor state optimally.

[0061] Such factors of load parameters or the load parameters can also often be read out of the operational data of the machine 1 (e.g. from a suitable data memory of the central control unit 7) and can relate in particular also to measured values (example: grinder running time multiplied by current and voltage). As described previously, various factors of the load parameter(s) of the component can be included in the calculation formula for the reliability parameter of a component. For example, the load parameter for the grinding discs of a grinder 2a, in addition to the number of operational cycles 5 which the grinding discs have in fact passed through during brewing, also the proportion (grinder running time) per drink, the type of beans (hard/soft/foreign matter-loaded) and the quality of the grinding discs (favourable, high-quality) can be taken into account jointly. Load parameters or factors of the same can likewise be adapted, just as curve functions (time courses) of load parameters or factors of the same flexibly, according to the latest knowledge: it is thereby advantageous to implement the data processing on the external server 8 (i.e. for example to calculate the reliability parameters from the load parameters on the server 8) and subsequently to display the conclusions from the calculated reliability parameters (in particular: corresponding maintenance instructions) on the display 6 of the machine 1.

[0062] According to the invention, for assessment of a maintenance requirement of components, the states or the reliability parameters of components can be divided into a plurality of phases. One criterion as to when a component should be exchanged can be chosen differently. In the case of specific components, the reliable mechanical function is the priority (e.g. in the case of seals) so that only a low breakdown quota or breakdown probability per unit of time can be accepted. Other components can have an insidious effect on the drink quality via wear and tear phenomena (for example: grinding discs in the grinder 2a), which with a certain tolerance of the quality, does not at first represent a strict breakdown criterion. Further components (for example: water filter) function at first relatively reliably over a long time and fail relatively suddenly.

[0063] Hence the ordinate (reliability parameter) can be divided into phases over the abscissa (time), i.e. the reliability parameter course for a component, which phases can define different exchange criteria for the component. See in this respect the breakdown probability course per unit of time over time in FIG. 4 with the associated phase division in FIG. 3 (phase A which is present in the time interval of 0 to z.sub.1, merges into the phase B and finally into phase C. For example, at the time z.sub.1 during the course of phase A for a seal (line 3 in FIG. 3), a first warning as maintenance recommendation could be issued on the display 6 (seal beginning to wear.). At the time z.sub.2, i.e. after the end of phase B, a more urgent maintenance recommendation could be issued on the display 6 (seal showing detectable wear. Please change.). At the time z.sub.3, i.e. at a specific time in phase C or after phase C, an automated disconnection of the machine can be effected on the basis of wear of the seal being no longer tolerable: a corresponding maintenance command can thereby be generated in the control unit 7 which disconnects the function of the machine 1, then at the same time the following being able to be issued on the display 6 as maintenance recommendation: Seal worn out. Seal must be replaced before machine can be operated again..

[0064] By means of fine divisions of such phases or sections, maintenance can be well adapted to client requirements. FIG. 3 shows a classification proposal of different phases with examples of maintenance-relevant components (left-hand column from line 3 onwards). According to the invention, a cost-optimised maintenance plan (which comprises few service deadlines per unit of time) can be generated. This can be effected by projection of a deadline as to when a first of the maintenance-relevant components enters phase C. Then a suggestion for the subsequent deadline (for example: one year) can be produced. For such a cost-optimised maintenance, it is now shown which components enter phase B and which phase they would reach. Upon reaching phase C, the respective component is exchanged, the components which are still in phase B can remain.

[0065] Likewise, a maintenance plan with reliability-optimised maintenance can be generated. A projection of the deadline can hereby be effected as to when the first of the maintenance-relevant components reaches phase B. Then a suggestion for the subsequent deadline (for example: one year) can be produced. For the reliability-optimised maintenance, it is now shown therefrom which components enter phase B. Also these components are jointly exchanged, differently from the cost-optimised maintenance.

[0066] FIG. 5a shows an example of fixed maintenance intervals: the time interval of the individual maintenance deadlines is strictly prescribed, the maintenance range is calculated respectively according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 5b shows a further example in which the first maintenance is strictly prescribed, the subsequent maintenance deadlines or maintenance intervals are calculated dynamically according to the invention. After evaluation of the first (fixed) maintenance interval, the range and time of the next maintenance is calculated. Compare also the example in FIG. 5c. Correspondingly, after evaluation of the second maintenance interval (dynamically in FIG. 5b), respectively the range and the next maintenance time can be calculated etc.

[0068] FIG. 5d shows a maintenance plan generation of the present invention in which all maintenance intervals are set dynamically. At the start of use, a running projection for determining the respectively next maintenance time and the respectively next maintenance range can be effected.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows that a suitable curve function adapted to the component, can be included in the calculation of the reliability parameter of a component (optimisation for actual conditions). The background here is that not every maintenance-relevant component behaves linearly with respect to its quality (e.g. expressed as breakdown probability per unit of time on the ordinate). Thus, as a function of time (abscissa) or number of cycles, a differently shaped curve function can be included in calculation of the reliability parameter of a maintenance-relevant component. All the already described factors, load parameter, operational data, operational duration and sensor systems can be a component of the curve function. In addition to the two-dimensional examples of curve functions shown in FIG. 6, also multidimensional curve functions of the dimension 3 can be taken into account. FIG. 6 shows examples of typical curve functions for various maintenance-relevant components of the coffee machine 1.

[0070] Calculation of the reliability parameters (and also possibly parameters derived therefrom, such as e.g. maintenance instructions) can be effected not only in the processor of the central control unit 7 of the machine 1 but also externally (connection via the data line 8a) in an external, outsourced system 8. Thus for example the determination steps for the load parameters 3 of a method according to the invention can be effected by means of the control unit 7 of the machine 1, whilst the calculation steps for the reliability parameters 4 and also the generation steps for the maintenance instructions can be effected on the external system 8. The generated maintenance instructions such as e.g. maintenance times, maintenance recommendations to be displayed or even the maintenance commands directed towards the machine can then be conveyed from the external system 8 via the data line 8a to the central control unit 7. The system 8 can hence communicate with the machine 1 via suitable interfaces. For example, the essential steps of a method according to the invention can be produced as application on the central server 8 which is assigned to maintenance of the machine 1 or of a plurality of machines 1. Data of the machine(s) 1 can be transmitted via RDA modules, Ethernet or even via further normal network communication interfaces to the server 8. Breakdown data, operational parameters, load parameters, detected wear data etc. during maintenance of exchanged components can be stored for a specific machine 1 (or also a machine population comprising a plurality of such machines) in an external data bank on the server 8 and be also evaluated statistically. This can serve for optimisation and updating of data for future calculations (evaluations) of maintenance data of individual components. Planning and prognosis of maintenance deadlines can require specific knowledge of the use behaviour of a machine 1. Such data detected for components in the past can be collected per component for determination of actual wear and tear of maintenance-relevant components (e.g. in a data bank on the server 8) and can be extrapolated into the future with the assumption that also future loads of the machine 1 or of the components 2a to 2e thereof follow the pattern of the past.

[0071] If the case now arises that the machine 1 is used entirely differently from in the past (example: an ice cream kiosk had high loading in the summer months, for the forthcoming winter months after maintenance in September, low loading is expected since the ice cream kiosk has opened only for planned visits), then this can also be taken into account: extrapolated parameters (e.g. expected brewing cycles per month, coffee bean use per month etc.) can be manipulated or adapted correspondingly to the expected change in loading and can be taken into account in calculation of wear to be expected in various components (future loading) or the future loading to be expected can be correspondingly calculated.

[0072] In practice, this can be implemented by the abscissa of the reliability parameters or of the curve functions (cf. e.g. FIGS. 4 and 6) of each maintenance-relevant component being assigned to a useful base indicator. An example of the assignment of such base indicators is shown in FIG. 7a. Such a base indicator can be detected in the machine data and extrapolated into the future. Base indicators can be advantageously: operational days, brewing cycles, water consumption. The base indicators can thereby be correlated linearly, cf. the example in FIG. 7b.

[0073] By input of an expected base indicator (e.g. operational days, water consumption, brewing cycles), a projection for the reliability parameters of all components of the machine 1 can now be effected since the various base indicators of the various components are in a known correlation.

[0074] Different requirements entirely can be set for the maintenance-relevant components, as a function of the installation location or the user of the machine 1. Thus a first owner (customer A) can require a very much higher quality level with respect to display brightness with an installation location in a very bright environment than an owner 2 (customer B) who operates the machine 1 in a dark discotheque. Compare FIG. 8a.

[0075] Desired reliability parameters (for quality level) per component can be assigned, specific to the device in a customer-specific table. Compare example in FIG. 8b.

[0076] With specification of a planned maintenance deadline, conclusions can be drawn in the future also by means of interpolation of data about a reliability- or quality level respectively of the individual components (and hence also about a reliability parameter of the entire machine 1).

[0077] In addition to fixed operational data or operational data which can be read out of the machine 1, in particular further wear indicators can determine the actual loading of the maintenance-relevant components or contribute to calculation of the reliability parameters of the components. As an example, conclusions can be drawn about the actual state of the background illumination of the display by means of a measurement of the display brightness. Power sensors can determine the loading of components (example: strain gauges which are applied on components subject to a bending load).