Setting the level of fill in a cup used with a beverage dispenser

Abstract

A beverage preparation device that includes a device for filling via an outlet a cup located below the outlet and a user interface for allowing a user to select a desired level of fill of beverage in the cup. The interface comprises a position detector for detecting either a human finger or a hand-held freely movable pointing instrument adjacent to and pointing towards a side of the cup. The filling device is arranged to derive from the detected position of the finger or pointing instrument the user-selected level of fill and to fill the cup up to this level.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The field of the invention pertains to the setting of the level of fill in cups used with a beverage preparation devices, such as coffee machines or similar apparatus.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or to be dissolved; for other machines, the ingredients are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or else are added at the time of preparation of the drink.[0003]Most coffee machines possess filling means that include a pump for liquid, usually water, which pumps the liquid from a source of water that is cold or indeed heated through heating means, such as a heating resistor, a thermoblock or the like.[0004]The fill of a drink in the receptacle, such as a cup or glass, is usually controlled in several different ways.[0005]In certain modes, the control of fill may be done by storing several fill programs in a controller which itself commands the time of activation of the pump ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]It is therefore a preferred object of the present invention to increase the user-friendliness and the intuitiveness of the selection arrangement of the desired levels of fill in cups of various sizes used in a beverage preparation device.

[0014]It is a particular object of the invention to provide a level of fill selection arrangement for various cup sizes which does not need to be preprogrammed as to the cup sizes by the user but which is immediately adaptable with any cup size used by the user.

Problems solved by technology

A drawback comes from the fact that depending on the state of the machine, for example the degree of limescale, the volumes actually delivered may vary significantly.

However, a drawback is that it is necessary to provide a series of operating buttons depending on the number of different volumes to be delivered.

There is a real risk of confusion by the user unaccustomed to using the machine; this typically leads to the delivery of excessively strong coffees or to overspills from the cup.

Another drawback arises from the lack of flexibility in respect of the user who may want an intermediate volume depending on the type of capsule or drink chosen.

The flow meter may also lack accuracy or its accuracy be impaired on account of the scale which builds up on its surfaces.

Another drawback arises from the fact that control by flow meter takes no account of the quantity of froth produced; this may lead to a spillover of froth for very frothy products.

However, this raises several drawbacks.

One is that the user must remain attentive during the flow of the drink; without this, the system continues to deliver liquid: the risks of spillover are therefore fairly common.

Another drawback arises from the fact that manual control such as this is inaccurate.

The user may then encounter difficulties in reproducing the fill that he usually desires especially when the drink may produce more or less froth; this may fool the user in the control of the filling of the cup with liquid.

Another mode of control which is more complex and more expensive to implement consists of a means of recognition on a packaged portion of ingredients (for example, a capsule), such as a bar code, which transmits instructions to the machine, so as to tailor the volume to be delivered.

Such a device does not allow sufficient detection accuracy, in particular, for coffee receptacles, on account of the way in which the incident signal is detected and then compared.

Moreover, this device is unsuitable for translucent receptacles.

Finally, the device does not make it possible to choose one's fill position.

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