vending machine

Abstract

A beverage vending machine (1) with a dispensing device (2) and a cup stand (3) on which a beverage container (4) can be placed, wherein a detection device (5) is provided which detects the shape of the beverage container (4) placed on the cup stand (3), and wherein an evaluation and control device (6) is provided which is designed such that, based on the shape of the beverage container (4) detected by the detection device (5), it selects an associated beverage and accordingly controls the beverage vending machine (1) to dispense this selected beverage via the dispensing device (2), characterized in that the detection device (5) detects a position of the beverage container (4) placed on the cup stand (3), and that the evaluation and control device (6) is designed such thatthat, based on an incorrect position of the beverage container (4) on the cup pedestal (3) detected by the detection device (5), it automatically aligns the beverage container (4) horizontally with the dispensing device (2) or the dispensing device (2) with the beverage container (4) and in particular generates a warning signal.

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage machine having a dispensing device and a cup stand according to the preamble of claim 1.Beverage machines known from the prior art usually start by a manual activation by a user, which selects a desired beverage, for example, via a corresponding switch or button, which beverage is subsequently dispensed via a dispensing device into a beverage container, in particular placed on a cup stand. After the desired beverage has been selected, the desired beverage is also dispensed with respect to a predefined dispensing quantity via the beverage machine, so that the user must take care of placing suitable beverage containers under the dispensing device in order to prevent the placed beverage container from being able to receive the dispensed beverage quantity and therefore overflowing.DE 10 2014 211 403 A1 discloses a beverage machine for domestic purposes, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, having a beverage dispensing region, a sensor device for detecting the contours of a beverage vessel in the beverage dispensing region and a graphic display device. It is also provided here that the display device is designed to display the outlines on the display device and that a desired filling height of the beverage container can be input by means of an input unit. In this way, in particular, operating comfort is to be increased.DE 10 2017 205 567 A1 discloses a hot beverage preparation device, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, which has at least one liquid container and a laser fill level measuring device for measuring the fill level in the liquid container. The laser fill level measuring device is designed for emitting and receiving at least one laser radiation, wherein the laser fill level measuring device is also suitable for ascertaining at least one further item of information in addition to measuring the fill level. This can be, for example, the presence of a water filter, a liquid container and / or a fill level of a further liquid container. This is also intended to increase the ease of use for a user.Further automatic beverage machines are known, for example, from DE 10 2014 102 490 A1, EP 1 532 066 B1, DE 10 2017 209 055 A1 and CN 1 07 397 440 A.However, the disadvantage of the beverage automats known from the prior art is that multiple actions and monitoring processes are also required for the dispensing of a desired beverage by the user, which significantly impair the operating comfort for the user.The present object is therefore concerned with the problem of specifying an improved or at least one alternative embodiment for a beverage machine of the generic type, which is distinguished in particular by a further increased operating comfort for a user.This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.The present invention is based on the general idea of increasing operating convenience for a user in that a beverage machine is activated solely by placing a beverage container on a cup stand and at the same time the dispensing of an associated beverage is initiated via the detection of the shape of the beverage container, and in that a correct position of a beverage container on the cup stand is detected via a corresponding detection device and, in the presence of incorrect positioning, the beverage container is correctly positioned with respect to the dispensing device, in order thereby reliably to prevent the beverage from being wasted. The beverage machine according to the invention has a dispensing device and a cup stand on which a beverage container can be placed. In order to be able to clearly increase the operating convenience for a user, a detection device and an evaluation and control device are provided, wherein the detection device is designed such that it detects a shape of the beverage container placed on the cup stand and wherein the evaluation and control device is designed such that it selects an associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container previously detected by the detection device and controls the beverage machine accordingly to output this selected beverage via the output device. This offers the great advantage that, for example, in the case of a desired espresso, a user only has to place an espresso cup on the cup stand of the automatic beverage machine, whereupon the automatic beverage machine then automatically issues an espresso. This eliminates, in particular, a manual activation of the beverage machine by the user. Additionally or alternatively, the detection device can detect a position of the beverage container placed on the cup stand, wherein the evaluation and control device is configured according to the invention in such a way that it automatically aligns the beverage container horizontally with respect to the dispensing device or the dispensing device horizontally with respect to the beverage container and in particular generates a warning signal on the basis of a incorrect position of the beverage container on the cup stand detected by the detection device. If the user thus, for example, places the beverage container on the cup stand obliquely below the dispensing device, the evaluation and control device can, for example, transmit a corresponding warning signal, in particular an optical and / or an acoustic warning signal, to the user, wherein it is alternatively of course also conceivable that the evaluation and control device evaluates the incorrect position detected by the detection device and aligns the cup stand and, via it, in particular an adjustment device, the beverage container relative to the dispensing device or the dispensing device relative to the detected beverage container in such a way that the beverage to be dispensed is dispensed exclusively into the beverage container and no overflow thereof takes place. This can additionally significantly increase the operating comfort. Of course, a combination of these functions for a further increase in operating convenience is also conceivable, so that a user initially places a corresponding beverage container, for example an espresso cup, on the cup stand of the beverage machine according to the invention, the user then aligns the beverage container to the dispensing device and starts a beverage preparation process automatically as a function of the beverage container placed under. If, for example, the user places an espresso cup on the cup stand, the shape of the espresso cup is detected via the detection device and forwarded to the evaluation and control device, whereupon the latter outputs an espresso. In this case, it can of course rely on predefined characteristic maps with respect to freeness, coffee meal quantity, water quantity, etc. It is likewise conceivable for the user to place an espresso cup and a cappuccino cup on the cup stand, wherein the responsible detection device first detects or suitably aligns the correct position of one of the two cups under the dispensing device in order then to dispense the beverage belonging to the respective beverage container, that is to say, for example, to the espresso, in this case. The second beverage container is then aligned with the dispensing device, for example by a method of the dispensing device or a method of the cup stand, whereas the evaluation and control device then dispenses the beverage belonging to the second beverage container, in this case therefore to the cappuccino cup, in this case therefore a cappuccino. The cup stand and / or the dispensing device can / can be adjustable vertically and horizontally.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the coffee machine according to the invention, it is also conceivable that a user or a user first fixes or inputs a so-called "playlist" of desired beverages via an interface and then places the beverage containers associated therewith on the cup stand, which are then detected by the detection device in order to then create the respective associated beverages that were previously input via the playlist by means of the evaluation and control device.In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, the detection device is designed in such a way that it detects a height of the beverage container, a fill level and / or a milk foam height in the beverage container. In this way, in particular, an undesired overflow of the beverage container can be reliably prevented. This is conceivable in particular according to an advantageous development of the invention, in which the evaluation and control device is designed such that it stops a beverage draw if the fill level and / or the milk foam height has reached the height of the beverage container. This also makes it possible, in particular, to avoid undesired contamination of the beverage machine and of an outer side of the beverage container by an overflowing beverage.The evaluation and control device is expediently designed in such a way that it selects a freeness, a fill quantity, a milk froth quantity, a milk froth temperature, a water quantity and / or a coffee quantity for the associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container detected by the detection device. This can be done, for example, on the basis of predefined characteristic maps or else can also be determined beforehand, in particular when setting up the beverage machine, individually by the user or the user, as a result of which a high level of individualization of the beverages to be produced is achieved.In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the detection device has a radar sensor, a laser and / or an optical sensor, in particular a camera. By means of the optical sensor, for example by means of the camera, it is possible, for example, to analyze and monitor a milk froth quality, while by means of a radar sensor it is possible to completely detect the shape of the beverage container and / or a fill level therein. It is particularly advantageous in the case of such a radar sensor that it can be arranged in a protected manner in a housing of the beverage machine, since electromagnetic waves in the frequency ranges typical for radar can penetrate plastic. Such a radar sensor itself can be realized, for example, by means of different frequencies (according to frequency regulation). An example of this is, for example, a radar system-on module having two transmitting (TX) and four receiving antennas (RX), such a radar sensor operating in the ISM frequency range of 57-64 GHz. The great advantage of such a radar sensor is, in addition, a comparatively small size. A further advantage of such a radar sensor is that there is less concern with respect to privacy with respect to this, as may be the case, for example, with a camera used. Typical soiling, for example splashing, moreover does not lead to any functional restriction, as do vapor vapours and / or a vapor deposit. In addition, with such a radar sensor, almost any material, for example glass, as material for the beverage container can be detected without any problems. Liquid in the beverage container also constitutes a clear radar target, for example, in contrast to optical sensors. Such a radar sensor is preferably arranged at the dispensing region above the beverage container to be filled and directed downwards in such a way that it can measure into the beverage container. By means of such a radar sensor, not only the shape and the correct position of the beverage container on the cup stand relative to the dispensing device can be detected, but also the entire beverage production process can be monitored, for example the height of the fill level, the height of the milk foam, etc.The present invention is further based on the general idea of specifying a method for operating a coffee machine described above, in which a detection device having a radar sensor, a laser and / or an optical sensor detects the shape of a beverage container placed on a cup stand and an evaluation and control device selects an associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container detected by the detection device and controls the beverage machine accordingly to output this selected beverage via the output device. This not only increases a user experience, but also the ease of use for the user, since, for example, in the case of a desired cappuccino, he only has to place an associated cappuccino cup under the output device on the cup stand without transmitting further activation commands to the beverage machine. In addition, in the method according to the invention, the detection device also detects a position of the beverage container placed on the cup stand, wherein in this case the evaluation and control device automatically aligns the beverage container horizontally with respect to the dispensing device or the dispensing device with respect to the beverage container and generates in particular a warning signal, e.g. an optical or acoustic warning signal, on the basis of a faulty position of the beverage container on the cup stand, which may be detected by the detection device. In particular, the combination of these two partial methods offers a great advantage because the user can, for example, place the espresso cup anywhere on the cup stand, whereupon the latter is detected by the detection device and initially aligned by means of the evaluation and control device. Subsequently, an automatic filling of espresso into the espresso cup takes place without the user having to transmit any further control command. Of course, instead of the automatic alignment, a warning signal can also be output via a corresponding adjusting device, so that in the event of a faulty placement of the beverage container on the cup stand, the user is first requested to position the beverage container correctly, i.e. usually directly below the output device, whereupon the evaluation and control device then automatically activates the beverage production process. It is of course clear that the method functions not only with a beverage container placed on the cup stand, but that, for example, also two beverage containers placed next to one another can be initially detected by the detection device, correctly positioned and filled successively with the respectively associated beverages. This allows, for example, a reference of a plurality of different beverages by merely raising associated beverage containers on the cup stand, as a result of which a considerable increase in comfort can be achieved. If, for example, two identical beverage containers are set up, these beverage containers can be filled successively with identical beverages without the user needing a further start or stop command for this purpose to the beverage machine.In an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the detection device detects a height of the beverage container, a fill level and / or a milk foam height in the beverage container and stops a beverage draw if the fill level and / or the milk foam height reaches the height of the beverage container. In this way, in particular, an overflow of the beverage container can be reliably prevented. Additionally or alternatively, it is also conceivable that the evaluation and control device selects a freeness, a fill quantity, a milk froth quantity, a milk froth temperature, a water quantity and / or a coffee quantity for the associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container detected by the detection device. This selection can be carried out, for example, on the basis of predefined characteristic maps or else by defining the user himself, for example when setting up the coffee machine. If the user's taste changes, the predefined components can be changed at any time.Of course, a combination of the aforementioned sensors in the detection device is also conceivable, so that individual strengths of different sensors can be combined. For example, an optical sensor, in particular a camera, can be used for evaluating the crema and foam quality during brewing and for adapting the brewing parameters. A laser can be used to evaluate the position and fill level quickly and easily, while a radar sensor allows concealed installation, since plastic is usually penetrated easily by radar waves.Further important features and advantages of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally the same components.In each case, diagrammatically show FIG. 1 shows a beverage machine according to the invention with different beverage containers placed on a cup stand, FIG. 2 is a view as in FIG. 1, but with two identical beverage containers placed on the cup stand, FIG. 3 is a highly schematic internal view of a beverage machine according to the invention, FIG. 4 shows a possible flow diagram of a method according to the invention for operating the beverage machine.According to FIG. 1, a beverage machine 1 according to the invention, which can be designed, for example, as a fully automatic coffee machine, has a dispensing device 2 and a cup stand 3, on which a beverage container 4 can be placed. The cup stand 3 can of course also be designed removable, in particular as a serving tray. Additionally provided is a detection device 5, which can have, for example, a laser, a radar sensor and / or a camera, that is to say an optical sensor. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the detection device 5 is arranged obliquely above the beverage containers 4, wherein it is of course also conceivable for this detection device 5 to be arranged exactly above the beverage containers, for example in the region of the dispensing device 2, in order to be able to additionally detect a fill level in the beverage container 4 in addition to the shape and the correct position of the beverage container 4.According to the invention, the detection device 5 detects a shape of the beverage container 4 placed on the cup stand 3, wherein an evaluation and control device 6 is additionally provided, which is designed such that it selects an associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container 4 detected by the detection device 5 and controls the beverage machine 1 accordingly to output this previously selected beverage via the output device 2. If a cappuccino cup 4 ais thus placed on the cup stand 3 by a user or a user, for example, the detection device 5 recognizes the cappuccino cup 4 abased on the shape, whereupon the evaluation and control device 6 then outputs an associated cappuccino via the output device 2. Additionally or alternatively, the detection device 5 also detects a position of the beverage container 4 placed on the cup stand 3, wherein the evaluation and control device 6 is configured such that it generates a warning signal on the basis of a incorrect position of the beverage container 4 on the cup stand 3 detected by the detection device 5 and / or automatically aligns the beverage container 4 with the dispensing device 2 or the dispensing device 2 with the beverage container 4. In the first mentioned case, for example, in the case of a beverage container 4 not placed directly below the dispensing device 2, here for example the cappuccino cup 4 ain FIG. 1, a corresponding warning signal can be generated or else the cup stand 3 with the beverage container 4 placed thereon, here the cappuccino cup 4 a, can be adjusted under the dispensing device 2 such that, in the event of a perpendicular downward running out of for example cappuccino from the dispensing device 2, this cappuccino reaches directly into the cappuccino cup 4 a. Of course, it is alternatively also conceivable for the dispensing device 2 to be adjustable relative to the beverage container 4, in particular vertically and / or horizontally.It is again conceivable that, if several beverage containers 4 are placed on the cup stand 3, these are positioned one after the other under the dispensing device 2 and the associated beverage is dispensed into the respective beverage container 4 according to the shape previously detected by means of the detection device 5. According to FIG. 1, the cappuccino cup 4 acan thus be positioned, for example, first under the output device 2 and then a cappuccino can be automatically output into the cappuccino cup 4 aby means of the evaluation and control device. The cup stand 3 with the beverage containers 4 placed thereon then moves to the left, so that the espresso cup 4b comes to a standstill under the dispensing device 2, whereupon the evaluation and control device 6 dispenses espresso into the espresso cup 4b via the dispensing device 2. Completely finally, the cup stand 3 is moved further to the left, whereupon the right-most beverage container 4, here a slat macchiato container 4 c, comes to a standstill under the dispensing device 2 and then automatically by means of the evaluation and control device 6 slat macchiato is filled into the slat macchiato container 4 c.It is of great advantage in the beverage machine 1 according to the invention that no additional activation commands have to be transmitted to the beverage machine 1 by a user or a user, but a simple placing of a beverage container 4 on the cup stand 3 is already sufficient for activating the beverage machine 1. If, for example, an espresso is desired, the user or the user simply places an espresso cup 4b on the cup stand, whereupon the latter is, for example, first aligned with the dispensing device 2 and then filled with espresso. If, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, two cappuccino cups 4 aare placed on the cup stand 3, then preferably the two cappuccino cups 4 aare filled successively with cappuccino.Expediently, the detection device 5 is also designed in such a way that it detects a height H of the beverage container 4, a fill level H F and / or a milk foam height H M in the beverage container 4. The evaluation and control device 6 can be designed in such a way that it stops a beverage draw if the fill level H F and / or the milk foam height H M reaches the height H of the beverage container 4. This reliably prevents, in particular, undesired overflow of the beverage container 4.Furthermore, the evaluation and control device 6 can also be designed in such a way that it selects a freeness, a fill quantity, a milk froth quantity, a milk froth temperature, a water quantity and / or a coffee quantity for the associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container 4 detected by the detection device 5, for example on the basis of a predefined characteristic diagram or on the basis of parameters predefined in advance by a user or a user on the basis of himself. This allows the user to specify an individual beverage which is selected and automatically dispensed whenever the associated cup or beverage container 4 is placed on the cup stand 3.If FIG. 3 is considered, the inner life of the beverage machine 1 according to the invention can be seen there, with, for example, a milk container 7, a milk frother 8, a bean container 9, a grinding unit 10, a brewing unit 11, a triester container 12, a valve 13, a heater 14, a pump 15 and a water container 16. By means of the detection device 5, the height H of the beverage container 4, a height of a milk foam H M to be filled and a height H F of a liquid, for example coffee, to be filled can be determined. By means of the detection device 5, a position of the beverage container 4 on the cup stand 3 can also be detected.According to FIG. 4, an exemplary method sequence for operating the beverage machine 1 is shown, in which the detection device 5 with its radar sensor is initially in a moderate mode with a low measurement rate of, for example, approximately 0.2 to 5 Hz. If a beverage container 4 is now placed on the cup stand 3, the correct positioning is monitored by means of the detection device 5 and a corresponding warning signal is transmitted to the user in the event of incorrect positioning. The latter can then correct the positioning of the beverage container 4 on the cup stand 3. The position of the beverage container 4 on the cup stand 3 is subsequently detected again by the detection device 5. alternatively, it is of course also conceivable that, in the case of an automatically adjustable cup stand or an automatically adjustable dispensing device 2, the beverage container 4 is automatically positioned relative to the dispensing device 2, provided that the detection device 5 detects incorrect positioning.If the beverage container 4 is now correctly positioned with respect to the dispensing device 2, the shape of the beverage container 4 is detected by means of the detection device 5 and an associated beverage, for example coffee, is selected on the basis of the shape of the beverage container 4 detected by the detection device 5 and the beverage machine 1 is controlled accordingly to dispense this selected beverage via the dispensing device 2. In this case, the detection device 5 monitors the beverage production process, for example by monitoring the respective heights H F of the liquid or H M of the milk froth. If detection device 5 detects that the height of the milk foam H M or the height of the liquid H F, for example of the coffee, reaches the height H of the beverage container 4, it stops the beverage supply or the beverage dispensing directly. Finally, the beverage machine 1 according to the invention waits for the user to remove the full beverage container 4 in order subsequently to return to the originally moderate mode. During beverage collection, the radar sensor or generally the detection device 5 measures the fill level of the coffee or possibly of the milk froth in a measurement mode with an increased measurement rate. Previously, the evaluation and control device 6 can also select a freeness, a fill quantity, a milk froth quantity, a milk froth temperature, a water quantity, etc. for the associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container 4 placed on the cup stand 3.All in all, a clearly increased operating comfort for a user or a user can be created with the method according to the invention and with the beverage machine 1 according to the invention, since no separate start or activation commands are required as before, but only the simple placing of a beverage container 4 accommodating the desired beverage on the cup stand 3 is sufficient for activation. If the user desires a plurality of different beverage types, he / she places different beverage containers 4 a, 4 b, 4 con the cup stand 3, whereupon, in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the beverage machine 1 according to the invention, these containers are successively processed and filled.List of reference characters1 Beverage machine 2 Dispensing device 3 Cup stand 4 Beverage container 5 Detection device 6 Evaluation and control device 7 Milk container 8 Milk frother 9 Bean container 10 Grinding mechanism 11 Brewing device 12 Triester container 13 Valve 14 Heater 15 Pump 16 Water container

Claims

Beverage machine (1) having a dispensing device (2) and a cup stand (3) on which a beverage container (4) can be placed, wherein a detection device (5) is provided which detects the shape of the beverage container (4) placed on the cup stand (3) and wherein an evaluation and control device (6) is provided which is designed in such a way that it selects an associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container (4) detected by the detection device (5) and controls the beverage machine (1) accordingly to dispense this selected beverage via the dispensing device (2), characterized in that the detection device (5) detects a position of the beverage container (4) placed on the cup stand (3) and in that the evaluation and control device (6) is designed in such a way that, that it automatically horizontally aligns the beverage container (4) to the dispensing device (2) or the dispensing device (2) to the beverage container (4) on the cup stand (3) on the basis of a incorrect position of the beverage container (4) detected by the detecting device (5) and in particular generates a warning signal.Beverage machine (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the detection device (5) is designed in such a way that it detects a height H of the beverage container (4), a fill level H F and / or a milk foam height H M in the beverage container (4).Beverage machine (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the evaluation and control device (6) is designed in such a way that it stops a beverage draw if the fill level H F and / or the milk foam height H M reaches the height H of the beverage container (4).Beverage machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the evaluation and control device (6) is designed in such a way that it selects a freeness, a fill quantity, a milk froth quantity, a milk froth temperature, a water quantity and / or a coffee quantity for the associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container (4) detected by the detection device (5).Beverage machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (5) has a radar sensor, a laser and / or an optical sensor, in particular a camera.Beverage machine (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the radar sensor is arranged in a protected manner in a housing of the beverage machine (1).Method for operating a beverage machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a detection device (5) with a radar sensor, a laser and / or an optical sensor detects the shape of a beverage container (4) placed on a cup stand (3) and an evaluation and control device (6) selects an associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container (4) detected by the detection device (5) and controls the beverage machine (1) accordingly to output this selected beverage via the output device (2), wherein the detection device (5) detects a position of the beverage container (4) placed on the cup stand (3) and the evaluation and control device (6) automatically aligns the beverage container (4) to the dispensing device (2) or the dispensing device (2) to the beverage container (4) horizontally and in particular generates a warning signal on the basis of a incorrect position of the beverage container (4) on the cup stand (3) detected by the detection device (5).Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the detection device (5) detects a height H of the beverage container (4), a fill level H F and / or a milk foam height H M in the beverage container (4) and stops beverage consumption if the fill level H F and / or the milk foam height H M reaches the height H of the beverage container (4), and / or that the evaluation and control device (6) selects a freeness, a fill level, a milk foam level, a milk foam temperature, a water level and / or a coffee level for the associated beverage on the basis of the shape of the beverage container (4) detected by the detection device (5).

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