Selection panel for a beverage dispensing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to A selection panel (1) for a beverage dispensing device comprising a front window (2) having at least one display zone (3a) designed for displaying a product information label, at least one light source for illuminating the product information label arranged in the display zone (3a) of the front window (2), a reflector means (6) designed for reflecting the light emitted by the light source towards the display zone (3a) of the front window (2), wherein the light source is arranged outside of the contours of the respective display zone (3a).

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing machine comprising a selection panel comprising a front window, the front window comprising: at least one display zone designed for displaying a product information label; at least one light source for illuminating the product information label arranged in the at least one display zone of the front window, the at least one light source being arranged outside of contours of the at least one display zone; and a reflector associated with the at least one light source designed for reflecting light emitted by the at least one light source towards the at least one display zone of the front window, wherein: the reflector is located in a recession extending in a rear of the at least one display zone, outlines of the recession comprising a side of introduction of the light emitted by the at least one light source, a rear wall and lateral walls, the lateral walls raising from the rear wall up to a rear surface of the front window, and the lateral walls comprising at least two side lateral walls parallel to a main emission direction of the light emitted by the at least one light source, and the lateral walls further comprising an end lateral wall on an opposite side of introduction of the light emitted by the at least one light source, and the rear wall and the end lateral wall joining together according to a curved profile design, wherein the reflector is connectable to the front window to support the product information label between the rear surface of the front window and a conformable shaped upper surface of the reflector, the beverage dispensing machine comprises a front door in which the front window of the selection panel is supported, and the reflector is moveably attached to an inside face of the front door by a dedicated connection.

2. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the front door of the beverage dispensing machine comprises at least one selection button arranged in vicinity to the at least one display zone of the front window.

3. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the main emission direction of the light emitted by the at least one light source is arranged substantially parallel to a plane in which the front window is arranged.

4. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the reflector is arranged with respect to the front window such as to homogeneously distribute the light emitted by the at least one light source towards the at least one display zone.

5. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein in the recession, the side of introduction of the light emitted by the at least one light source is at least partially opened.

6. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein: the end lateral wall abuts on the rear surface of the front window according to an angle of about 25 with a plane perpendicular to the front window, and an end of the rear wall next to the at least one light source is designed such that it is oriented with an angle of about 83 with the plane perpendicular to the front window.

7. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rear wall and the end lateral wall present a surface configured for diffusing reflected light.

8. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the selection panel comprises a plurality of light sources, a plurality of associated display zones and a plurality of associated reflectors.

9. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of associated reflectors is assembled in a single piece of material.

10. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is an LED lamp.

11. The beverage dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the front window is void of any demarcation between respective display zones.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for the skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a beverage preparation machine comprising a preferred embodiment of the selection panel according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of the selection panel according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional top view onto a preferred embodiment of a selection panel according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective side view of an assembly of reflector means according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a rear view onto the front door of a beverage machine according to the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective side view of the selection panel according to the invention during the step of replacement of the labels.

(8) FIG. 7 shows the reflection of two light beams on the reflector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) FIG. 1 relates to a front view of a beverage preparation machine 20 comprising a selection panel 1 according to the present invention. The selection panel 1 comprises a front window 2. The front window preferably comprises a plurality of display zones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f. In the respective display zones of the panel, product information labels 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f are arranged. On the labels product information such as for example a product name or product sign is preferably imprinted. By means of illumination means to be further described below, an illumination of the respective display zone and thus, of the product information label arranged within the respective display zone is enabled.

(10) The respective product information labels 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f indicated in FIG. 1 may be formed by a single label sheet.

(11) Adjacent to the respective display zones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, buttons 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f are arranged for enabling a consumer or user to choose a selection based on the information displayed by the label within the respective display zone. As alternative to the indicated buttons 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f, the front window 2 may be equipped with sensor means for sensing a pressure applied to or contact of a human finger with one of the respective display zones in order to enable a selection of the desired beverage product.

(12) The beverage preparation machine 20 is designed for preparing a plurality of different liquid comestibles such as for example different types of beverages. Thereby, the machine 20 may comprise at least a liquid reservoir, a pump, and a heating device such as a thermoblock.

(13) The machine 20 comprises a housing 20a and a dispensing area 21 at which the selected beverage is provided. Thereby, the dispensing area may be designed to support and/or house a receptacle such as a cup in order to enable the dispensing into the provided receptacle by dedicated outlet means arranged at the dispensing area (not shown).

(14) FIG. 2 relates to a preferred embodiment of the selection panel 1 according to the invention. The front window 2 is divided in a plurality of display zones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. The outer front surface of the window 2 is preferably void of any demarcation such as a wall member or the like. The outer surface is preferably flat or presents a smooth surface without any protrusions and/or recessions. The outer surface may as well be slightly bent.

(15) The panel 1 further comprises an assembly 6 of reflector means which is preferably an integrally formed piece. The upper surface (see FIG. 3) of the assembly 6 is preferably formed conformable to a rear surface of the window 2. Thereby, the upper surface of the assembly 6 is preferably essentially flat or slightly bent. Accordingly, the reflector means 6 is designed to be in tight contact with the rear surface of the window 2 by means of the provided surface of the reflector means assembly 6.

(16) The assembly 6 preferably comprises a plurality of reflectors means 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f which are cavities, all of these cavities presenting the same shape. The shape substantially corresponds to a parallepiped box wherein the face in front of the display zone is opened. Each of these reflectors means 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f is selectively illuminated by one corresponding light source 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f. The light sources 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f are arranged outside of the contours of the respective display zones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f. The light sources are thus not arranged behind the respective display zones to be illuminated, but at the side of the respective display sources. The light sources are positioned at the external side of the cavities. For each box, the face of the box in front of the light source 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f is at least partially opened so that the light enters.

(17) As shown in FIG. 2, the reflector means 6 are arranged with respect to the front window 2 such that the reflectors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f are placed behind the respective display zones 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f of the front window 2. Accordingly, the reflectors are arranged to illuminate an associated rear surface portion of the window 2 and thus a rear surface portion of an associated display zone.

(18) The light sources are preferably held by dedicated support members 14a, 14b arranged at the side of the reflector assembly 6. The support members 14a, 14b preferably hold the light sources 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f such that the emitted light is directed from the side of the reflector means 6 towards the reflectors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f of the reflector means and thus to the rear surface of the window 2 corresponding to the display zone associated to the respective light source.

(19) As indicated in FIG. 3, which shows a partial sectional top view of the device, preferably each of light sources 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f emits a bundle of light having a main emission direction respectively emission axis M, which is preferably essentially parallel to a plane in which the front window 2 is arranged.

(20) The main emission direction of the respective light source 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f is preferably arranged at an angle less than 25, more preferably less than 15 with respect to the inner surface of the front window 2 and/or with respect to a plane in which the front window 2 is arranged.

(21) FIGS. 3 and 4 make apparent that each reflector means 6a, 6d consists in a recession extending in the rear of the respective display zone 3a, 3d. The outlines of each recession 6a, 6d respectively comprises a rear wall 6a3 and 6d3 and lateral walls 6a1, 6a2, 6a4 and 6d1, 6d2, 6d4. Preferably the rear wall 6a3, 6d3 of each recession 6a, 6d is substantially parallel to the rear surface of the front window 2 as apparent in FIG. 3.

(22) For each recession the lateral walls 6a1, 6a2, 6a4 and 6d1, 6d2, 6d4 raises from its corresponding rear wall up 6a3 and 6d3 to the rear surface of the front window 2. For each recession 6a, 6d the lateral walls comprise: two side lateral walls 6a2, 6a4, respectively 6d2, 6d4, parallel to the main emission direction of the light emitted by the light source 5a, respectively 5d, (that is according to (M)), and one end lateral wall 6a1, respectively 6d1, on the opposite side of the light source 5a, respectively 5d.

(23) For each recession 6a, 6d, the rear wall 6a3, respectively 6d3, and the end lateral wall 6a1, respectively 6d1, join together according to a curve profile design. This curved design is concave.

(24) According to the preferred design: the end lateral wall 6a1 abuts on the rear surface of the front window 2 according to an angle of about 25 with the plane (P) perpendicular to the front window 2, and the end of the rear wall 6a3 next to the light source 5a is designed such that it is oriented with an angle of about 83 with the plane (P) perpendicular to the front window 2.

(25) For each reflector the side 6a5 of the recession 6a next to its respective light source 5a is opened. It can be totally opened as illustrated in FIG. 4then the recession 6a can present no lateral wall 6a5 as illustrated in FIG. 4or it can present a lateral wall 6a5 that is partially opened for light emission as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The partial opening can improve illumination and presents also the interest of enabling the conformal cooperation of the reflector with the rear surface of window to maintain a label 4a in between.

(26) The reflectors 6a, 6d lead to a deflection of the light emitted by the respective light source 5a, 5d towards the rear surface 2a of the front window 2 and thus, to the respective display zones 3a, 3d. Accordingly, a homogenous distribution of light towards the rear surface 2a of the respective display zone 3a, 3d is obtained.

(27) FIG. 4 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a reflector assembly 6 of the invention. The reflector means 6 is preferably an integral piece made from metal plastic, preferably in a light colour. The reflector assembly 6 comprises a surface which is conformable formed to the rear surface of the window 2 in order to neatly sandwich a product information label between these surfaces.

(28) The reflector means 6 further comprises shielding means 6d4, 6e5 for preventing the provision of light emitted by a respective light source to a display zone not associated with the respective light source. Such shielding means are formed by the upper and lower faces of the cavities of the reflector means 6d, 6e.

(29) In case the reflector means 6 are in contact with the rear surface of the window 2, the shielding means 7a may thus prevent the provision of light from a first deflector to a neighboring deflector or display zone.

(30) FIG. 5 relates to a rear view onto the front door 10 of a beverage machine 20 according to the invention. The front door 10 may be connected to the housing 20a by means of joints 10b formed at the inside face 10a of the front door 10. Accordingly, the front door is movably attached to the housing 20a.

(31) The front door 10 is designed to support the front window 2 of the selection panel. Thereby, dedicated support means may be arranged at the circumference of the front window 2 in order to fixedly connect the window 2, as well as the selection panel 1.

(32) The assembly of reflector 6 is preferably movably connected to the inside face 10a of the front door 10 by dedicated connection means 11 as illustrated in FIG. 6. For example a hinge or joint member 11 may be provided for selectively connecting the reflector assembly 6 to the front window 2 respectively to the front door 10 such as to be in contact with the rear surface 2a of the front window 2. Accordingly, the reflector assembly 6 is designed to be brought from an open state in which a product information label 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f may be placed onto the rear surface of the front window 2 into a closed state in which the reflector assembly 6 is brought in contact with the rear surface of the front window 2. In this closed state, the at least one product information label is preferably sandwiched between the rear surface of the front window 2 and the upper surface of the reflector assembly.

(33) Access to the product information labels respectively the sheet(s) of labels may thus be provided from the inside face 10a of the front door 10 of the machine. The reflector assembly 6 may be attached to the inside of the front door 10a by a hinge 11 so that it can be easily pulled to open the assembly of the selection front panel and remove the product information label(s). The reflector assembly 6 may also comprise a handle 12 to facilitate its movement with respect to the front door 10 and/or the front window 2.

(34) FIG. 7 is a part of FIG. 3 in which the paths of two light beams L1, L2 have been illustrated. Each beam L1, L2 is reflected on the rear wall 6a3 and on the end lateral wall 6a1 as a plurality of sub-beams I1, I2 respectively. Due to the orientation of the reflecting walls 6a1, 6a3 compared to the emission axis M and the curved shape between said walls, light beam L1 reflecting on rear wall 6a3 creates sub-beams I1 homogeneously distributed on the display zone 3a, whereas light beam L2 reflecting on rear wall 6a1 creates sub-beams I2 essentially distributed on the left part of the display zone 3a closest to the side 6a5 of the reflector. As a consequence display zone 3a is finally homogeneously crossed by reflected sub-beams I1 and I2 and no spot of light appears on said display zone for the user looking at the display zone from the exterior. A label positioned between along the surface of the display zone 3a is homogeneously illuminated.

(35) Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.