Height-adjustable beverage dispenser of a vending machine

Abstract

Method for adjusting the height of a beverage outlet (11) of a beverage dispenser (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, wherein the beverage dispenser (1) has a beverage outlet (11) and a vessel rim sensor (5), wherein in the method the beverage outlet (11) is adjusted in height in a flow direction (61) of a beverage after a beverage dispensing has been triggered, until an intermediate position (Z) is reached, characterized in that the intermediate position (Z) is reached when a motor control (71) of a motor (711) for adjusting the beverage outlet (11) indicates a lower position (U) of the beverage outlet (11) and the beverage outlet (11) is returned to a final position (E) by a defined value (ΔH) against the flow direction (61) after reaching the intermediate position (Z).

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the height of a beverage dispenser of a beverage vending machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, in which the beverage dispenser is adjusted in height after a beverage dispensing has been triggered, in the direction of beverage flow, until an intermediate position is reached. The present invention also relates to a beverage vending machine for carrying out the method.

[0002] To prevent beverage splashing and temperature loss when filling a container, it is known to adjust the height of the beverage dispenser's outlet before filling, so that the outlet is positioned close to the rim of the container. Due to the large number of different containers with varying rim heights, it is necessary to measure the rim height.

[0003] The German patent application DE 10 2010 060 731 A1 specifies a container rim sensor in the form of a rocker switch on the underside of the beverage dispenser. As soon as the rocker switch is activated by contact with the container rim, the height adjustment is immediately stopped and the filling process is then started.

[0004] German patent application DE 10 2010 060 732 A1 discloses a beverage maker with an automatically movable beverage spout. As soon as the rim of the cup is detected by a safety switch, the motor stops to end the movement. The sensor acts as a safety switch if the optical sensor arrangement does not detect the rim of the cup. When the safety switch is activated, the beverage spout moves back to its starting position or by a predetermined amount.

[0005] However, it has been observed that some containers can be positioned below the beverage dispenser in such a way that their rim is not below the rocker switch when the height is adjusted. Consequently, the rocker switch is not activated, even though the beverage dispenser has already reached the rim of the container. The motor that operates the beverage dispenser then continues to run. In this case, the beverage dispenser may already be resting on the rim of the container. This causes the container to become wedged between the drip tray on which it rests and the beverage dispenser. It then cannot be removed from the vending machine's dispensing area without manually adjusting the beverage dispenser. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to improve such a beverage vending machine, in particular such a fully automatic coffee machine, in a cost-effective manner so that the containers can be removed directly from the filling area of ​​the beverage vending machine, i.e. without manually adjusting the beverage outlet, even if the container rim height has not been correctly detected by a container rim sensor.

[0007] The problem is solved by a method having the features of independent claim 1 and a beverage vending machine having the features of independent claim 6. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0008] A method for adjusting the height of a beverage dispenser in a vending machine, particularly a fully automatic coffee machine, is developed. The vending machine has a beverage dispenser designed for dispensing the beverage. It also has a container rim sensor designed to detect the rim height of a container placed in the vending machine's filling area.

[0009] The process involves adjusting the height of the beverage spout in the direction of beverage flow after a beverage dispensing is triggered, until it reaches an intermediate position. It is characterized by the fact that, after reaching this intermediate position, the beverage spout is returned to its final position by a defined amount against the direction of flow.

[0010] By repositioning the beverage spout by a defined amount against the flow direction, it can be ensured, even if the height of the container rim is not accurately detected, that for the vast majority of containers used in vending machines, the beverage spout is positioned close to the rim during filling and does not rest on it. The container is then not jammed and can be removed from the vending machine immediately after filling. This solution also has the advantage of being cost-effective and can be implemented without modifying the beverage spout or the container rim sensor.

[0011] Preferably, the intermediate position is reached when the container rim sensor detects the rim of the container located below the beverage dispenser in the flow direction, or when the beverage dispenser's control unit detects a lower position of the beverage dispenser. Therefore, the beverage dispenser is preferably always adjusted in height, at least slightly, after reaching the intermediate position, regardless of whether the container rim sensor was able to detect the rim or not.

[0012] The vessel edge sensor is preferably a rocker switch. However, other vessel edge sensors, such as vessel edge sensor arrangements with one or more ultrasonic sensors, are also preferred.

[0013] However, if the vessel rim sensor detects the vessel rim of the vessel arranged below the beverage outlet in the direction of flow, it is preferred that the defined value by which the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after reaching the intermediate position is smaller than when the device control of the beverage dispenser indicates the lower position of the beverage outlet.

[0014] According to the invention, the device control system detects the lower position of the beverage spout when a motor control unit of a motor provided for adjusting the beverage spout indicates this. It is preferred that the motor control unit also indicates that the lower position has been reached even when the beverage spout is resting on the rim of the container and the intermediate position is located above the lower position. Therefore, the motor control unit preferably indicates the lower position when the motor has been activated for a sufficiently long time so that the beverage spout would have reached it if it had continued to be adjusted.

[0015] The beverage dispensing process is preferably started after the end position has been reached. This ensures that the beverage outlet is positioned slightly above the container during filling, and the container can then be removed directly from the filling area.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the beverage spout is adjusted vertically against the flow direction after dispensing until it reaches its uppermost position. In this embodiment of the beverage dispenser, dispensing therefore always starts from the upper, defined position, which allows for the placement of even the largest containers in the filling area without further manual adjustment of the beverage spout.

[0017] The problem is further solved using a beverage vending machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, to carry out the described method. The beverage vending machine preferably has a beverage dispenser that is height-adjustable in and against the flow direction, as well as a container rim sensor. With this beverage vending machine, it is ensured for the vast majority of containers that the beverage dispenser is positioned close to the rim of the container during filling, and does not rest on the rim, thus preventing the container from becoming jammed. The container can therefore be removed from the beverage vending machine immediately after filling.

[0018] The vessel edge sensor is preferably designed as a rocker switch. In this embodiment, it is preferably arranged on the lower side of the beverage outlet in the flow direction. However, other vessel edge sensors, for example ultrasonic sensors, are also preferred.

[0019] The invention is described below with reference to figures. The figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the general concept of the invention. Fig. Figure 1 shows (a) a beverage vending machine with a beverage spout arranged in an upper position in a perspective view, (b) the beverage vending machine from (a) with the beverage spout arranged in an intermediate position in a perspective view, and (c) the beverage vending machine with the beverage spout arranged in an end position in a perspective view. Fig. 2 shows in (a) a schematic filling area with a beverage outlet of the beverage dispenser. Fig. 1 in a first side view, and in (b) - (d) each schematically the filling area in a second side view, where (b) shows the beverage outlet in the upper position, (c) the beverage outlet in the intermediate position, and (d) the beverage outlet in the final position.

[0020] The beverage vending machine 1 of the Fig. 1 is a fully automatic coffee machine. However, the invention is also applicable to other beverage vending machines 1, in particular hot beverage vending machines. In the following, the terms beverage vending machine 1 and fully automatic coffee machine are used synonymously.

[0021] The beverage dispenser 1 has a filling area 13 in which a beverage outlet 11 is arranged. The beverage outlet 11 is height-adjustable both in and against the flow direction 3 of a beverage (not shown). Here, it is arranged in an upper position O. From the upper position O, it is only height-adjustable in the flow direction 3.

[0022] The beverage vending machine 1 has a motor 711 for height adjustment. The motor 711 is controlled by a motor controller 71. A device controller 7 is provided for controlling the beverage vending machine 1. The motor 71, the motor controller 711, and the device controller 7 are shown schematically here.

[0023] In the direction of flow 61 below the beverage outlet 11, a container 2 is placed on a drip tray 12. The container 2 is intended to hold the beverage.

[0024] To prevent splashing and temperature loss of the beverage during filling of the vessel 2, the beverage outlet 11 is adjusted vertically in the direction of flow 3. It should be positioned as close as possible to the vessel 2 and above a rim 21 of the vessel 2 during filling.

[0025] For this purpose, the beverage dispenser 1 has a container edge sensor 5 (see below). Fig. 2) on, which is located on an underside 111 of the beverage outlet 11. The vessel edge sensor 5 detects when the vessel edge 21 is reached.

[0026] Fig. 1 (b) shows the beverage vending machine 1 from Fig. 1 (a), wherein the beverage outlet 11 is height-adjustable in the flow direction 3 and arranged in an intermediate position Z. However, the beverage outlet 11 rests on the rim of the vessel 21, so that the vessel 2 is wedged between the drip tray 12 and the beverage outlet 11. This arrangement is possible if the vessel rim sensor 5 has not detected the rim of the vessel 21, for example because it is located outside the vessel rim sensor 5.

[0027] To enable immediate removal of the container 2 from the filling area 13 after filling, the beverage outlet 11 is retracted by a defined value ΔH against the flow direction 3 after reaching the intermediate position Z. It is then positioned in an end position E. For the vast majority of containers 2 typically used for beverage vending machines 1, the beverage outlet 11 is positioned in end position E near and above the container rim 21. This shows Fig. 1 (c). For all of the embodiments mentioned above, the defined value ΔH is expediently preset to a value in the range of 0.5 cm to 2 cm, preferably in the range of 1 to 1.5 cm.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows a first side view of the filling area 13. The vessel 2 is shown placed on the drip tray 12 and below the beverage outlet 11. The beverage outlet 11 is shown in the upper position O. For clarity, it is shown in the intermediate position Z with dashed lines.

[0029] Visible here is the vessel rim sensor 5, designed here as a rocker switch. The terms rocker switch and vessel rim sensor 5 are used synonymously in the following. The vessel rim sensor 5 protrudes into an interior space 20 of the vessel 2, so that it cannot detect the vessel rim 21. In the intermediate position Z, the beverage outlet 11 therefore rests on the vessel rim 21.

[0030] Provided the vessel 2 has a sufficiently large cross-sectional shape, it is also conceivable that the beverage spout 11, when adjusted in height in the direction of flow, is lowered into the vessel interior 20 until it is in a lower position U, in which the beverage spout 11 can no longer be adjusted in the direction of flow 3. The lower position U is then the intermediate position Z. In this case, the vessel 2 is not jammed when adjusted in height in the direction of flow 3 and can therefore be removed from the filling area 13, at least with a pivoting motion. However, moving the beverage spout 11 back against the direction of flow 3 from the lower (intermediate) position U, Z to the final position E then facilitates the removal of the vessel 2, since the beverage spout 11 in the final position E protrudes less far, or not at all, into the vessel interior 20 than in the lower position U.

[0031] To illustrate, the Fig.2 (b) - (d) a second side view of the filling area 13, where the upper position O and the lower position U are shown schematically. It is visible that the intermediate position Z, with the beverage spout 11 resting on the rim of the vessel 21, is located above the lower position U. By adjusting the beverage spout 11 by the defined value ΔH, it is moved sufficiently far against the flow direction 3 so that the vessel 2 can be removed from the filling area 13 in a horizontal movement.

[0032] The intermediate position Z is detected by the device control unit when the vessel rim sensor 5 detects the vessel rim 21 of vessel 2. The device control unit 7 also detects the intermediate position Z when the motor control unit 71 of the motor 711, which is used to adjust the beverage outlet 11, indicates the lower position U of the beverage outlet 11. The motor control unit 71 indicates the lower position U when either the beverage outlet 11 has actually reached this position, or when it would have reached it if it had continued to be adjusted in the flow direction 3 and the beverage outlet 11 was not resting on the vessel rim 21.

[0033] The device control unit 7 distinguishes between whether the vessel rim sensor 5 has detected the vessel rim 21 or whether the motor control unit 71 indicates the lower position U. The defined value ΔH, by which the beverage outlet 11 is adjusted in height after reaching the intermediate position Z, is smaller after the vessel rim 21 has been detected by the vessel rim sensor 5 than after the lower position U has been detected by the device control unit 7. This ensures that the beverage outlet 11 is positioned as close as possible to the vessel rim 21 after the vessel rim 21 has been detected by the vessel rim sensor 5.After the lower position U has been detected by the device control 7, an average value is used as the defined value ΔH, which, for average height vessels 2, ensures on the one hand that the beverage outlet 11 is positioned sufficiently high above the vessel 2 to allow the vessel 2 to be removed from the filling area 13 as horizontally as possible, and on the other hand that it is positioned so close to the vessel 2 that temperature losses and splashing of the beverage are avoided as much as possible. Reference symbol list 1 beverage vending machine, fully automatic coffee machine 11 Drinks outlet 111 Subpage 12 draining racks 13 Filling area 2 vessels, cup 20 Vessel interior 21 Vessel edge 3. Adjustment direction 41, O Upper Position 42, U Lower Position Z Intermediate position E End position 5 Sensor for detecting the vessel edge, rocker switch 61 Flow direction 62 First spatial direction 63 Second spatial direction 7 Device control 71 Engine control 711 Motor for adjusting the beverage spout ΔH Defined value

Claims

[1] Method for adjusting the height of a beverage outlet (11) of a beverage vending machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, wherein the beverage vending machine (1) has a beverage outlet (11) and a container edge sensor (5), wherein in the method the beverage outlet (11) is adjusted in height in a flow direction (61) of a beverage after a beverage dispensing has been triggered, until an intermediate position (Z) is reached, characterized by , that the intermediate position (Z) is reached when a motor control (71) of a motor (711) for adjusting the beverage outlet (11) indicates a lower position (U) of the beverage outlet (11) and the beverage outlet (11) is returned to an end position (E) by a defined value (ΔH) against the flow direction (61) after reaching the intermediate position (Z). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by, that the intermediate position (Z) is reached when a vessel edge sensor (5) detects a vessel edge (21) of a vessel (2) arranged in the flow direction (61) below the beverage outlet (11), and that the defined value (ΔH) by which the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after reaching the intermediate position (Z) is smaller after the vessel edge (21) is detected by the vessel edge sensor (5) than after the lower position (U) is detected by the device control (7). [3] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the beverage dispensing will start after reaching the final position (E). [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the beverage outlet (11) is adjusted in height against the flow direction (61) after the beverage has been dispensed, until it has reached an upper position (O) of the beverage outlet (11). [5] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the vessel edge sensor (5) is a rocker switch. [6] Vending machine (1) for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that it has a height-adjustable beverage outlet (11) in and against a flow direction (3), as well as a vessel edge sensor (5). [7] Vending machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the vessel edge sensor (5) is arranged on a lower side (111) of the beverage outlet (11) in the direction of flow (3) and is designed as a rocker switch.

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