METHOD FOR OPERATING A COFFEE MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR A FULLY AUTOMATIC COFFEE MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a coffee machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine. According to the method, a service program (SP) is executed in the coffee machine (1) if the coffee machine (1) is to be taken out of service for an extended period of time, wherein the service program (SP) can be started by a user of the coffee machine. During the service program (SP), at least one service measure (M, M1) is carried out by the coffee machine (1) in preparation for taking the coffee machine (1) out of service and / or a request to carry out at least one service measure (M, M2) by a user is displayed.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating, in particular for taking off operation, a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, and to a coffee machine or a fully automatic coffee machine which is set up / programmed for carrying out this method.Coffee machines in the form of so-called fully automatic coffee machines are often also used in Ferienhauses. In this case, said fully automatic coffee machines are frequently used during the presence of the residents, but remain unused in the absence for a typically long period of time. This can lead to ingredients remaining in the fully automatic coffee machine during the absence for preparing the coffee hot beverage, such as coffee beans, water or milk, degrading. In addition, in the fully automatic coffee maker, it is also possible for triesters and residual water to accumulate in various collecting containers and fluid channels. This in turn may lead to the formation of mold.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for operating a coffee machine which takes into account the above-mentioned problem.This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.The basic idea of the invention is accordingly to equip a coffee machine or a fully automatic coffee machine with a service program which can be executed if the coffee machine or the fully automatic coffee machine is to be taken out of operation over a relatively long period of time. By "longer period" is meant a period greater than a typically elapsed period between two preparation operations. Expediently, therefore, "longer period" means a period of at least two days, preferably at least several days. The term "longer period of time" can, however, also be understood to mean a period of at least one week, of several weeks, of at least one month or even of several months.According to the invention, the service program comprises measures which prevent ingredients remaining in the coffee machine from being able to cause them to be soiled as far as mold formation. According to the invention, the service program contains measures which are carried out fully automatically and automatically by the coffee machine, such as cleaning of various components of the coffee machine or emptying of various containers for receiving ingredients; furthermore, measures are also provided which cannot be carried out automatically by the coffee machine but must be carried out manually by the user; in this case, the user is guided by the service program to carry out such corresponding measures and is optionally also guided to how said measures can be carried out. As a result, the undesirable effects mentioned at the beginning are effectively counteracted with the aid of the service program according to the invention if the coffee machine or the fully automatic coffee machine is to be taken out of operation for a longer period of time.The method according to the invention serves for operating, in particular for taking out operation, a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine. According to the method, a service program is executed in the coffee machine when the coffee machine is to be put out of operation over a longer period of time, wherein the program can be started by a user of the coffee machine. According to the method according to the invention, the service program for preparing the shutdown of the coffee machine comprises the execution of at least one measure by the coffee machine and / or the display of a request for the execution of at least one measure by the user of the coffee machine.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one measure of the service program comprises or is a pumping out and / or discharge steam of at least one fluid path present in the coffee machine through the coffee machine. The term "fluid paths" in the present case means any paths or channels provided in the coffee machine which are supplied by a fluid, i.e. a gas or a liquid, for example water vapor, water or milk, or else by substances which are present in solid form, for example coffee beans.In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure can comprise or be the flushing of a brewing chamber of the coffee machine. This measure counteracts contamination of the brewing chamber.In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure can comprise or be an empty grinding of the beans present in the coffee bean store by means of the grinding mechanism. This prevents coffee beans from being processed when the coffee machine is restarted, which coffee beans have lost their aroma to a considerable extent on account of the long storage time in the coffee beans store.Particularly expediently, the at least one measure of the service program can comprise or be a request to the user for emptying milk present in a milk storage container. This prevents the milk from spoilage during the non-operating phase of the coffee machine.In another preferred embodiment, the at least one measure of the service program can comprise or be a cleaning of at least one milk path, which fluidically communicates with the milk storage container and through which milk can flow, and / or of a coffee outlet of the coffee machine, in each case by the coffee machine. Moreover, contamination of said milk path or coffee outlet, in particular with deteriorated milk or with deteriorated coffee hot beverage, is counteracted.In another preferred embodiment, the at least one measure of the service program may comprise or be displaying a request to the user for emptying a water tank of the coffee machine.In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure can comprise or be the display of a request to the user for emptying coffee beans present in a coffee bean storage container.In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure can comprise or be the display of a request to the user for emptying and cleaning a triester container. This prevents the triester from remaining in the coffee machine during the out-of-service phase.In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one action of displaying the request may comprise or be displaying to the user at least one instruction describing how the action is to be performed.In another preferred embodiment, the at least one measure may comprise or be displaying a request for electrically disconnecting the coffee machine from an external electrical power supply. This prevents the coffee machine from unnecessarily consuming electric current. In addition, the disconnection from the electrical power supply also proves to be an advantageous safety measure, by means of which in particular the occurrence of electrical short circuits during the out-of-operation phase can be ruled out.According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the at least one measure can comprise or be a deactivation of at least one electrical component of the coffee machine by a control / regulation device of the coffee machine. In this way, on the one hand, said electrical components are saved and, on the other hand, electrical current idea thus reduces energy consumption of the coffee machine during the non-operating phase. Said electrical component can in particular be a communication unit for establishing a data transmission connection of the coffee machine to the Internet.The invention further relates to a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, for producing a coffee hot beverage. The coffee machine comprises a coffee beans storage container for receiving coffee beans, a water tank for receiving water, a grinding mechanism for grinding the coffee beans received in the coffee beans storage container, and a brewing chamber for producing a coffee hot beverage from the ground coffee beans and from heated water from the water tank. Furthermore, the coffee machine according to the invention comprises a control / regulation device for controlling the coffee machine, wherein the control / regulation device is configured and / or programmed to carry out the method according to the invention. The advantages of the method according to the invention explained above are therefore transferred to the coffee machine according to the invention. In addition, the coffee machine according to the invention comprises a display device, which can be controlled by means of the control / regulating device, for displaying a request to the user of the coffee machineA solution to the object mentioned at the beginning is also provided by a computer program product comprising commands which, when the program is executed by a control / regulating device, in particular that of the coffee machine mentioned, cause the latter to carry out the steps of the method described here, i.e. of the method according to the invention, optionally also with the corresponding developments. As a result, the advantages mentioned hitherto can be achieved with very little effort and thus also particularly sustainably.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.They show, in each case schematically: FIG. 1 shows, in a roughly schematic, greatly simplified form, the structure of a coffee machine according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration illustrating the service program of the method according to the invention.FIG. 1 illustrates in schematic representation an example of a coffee machine 1 in the form of a fully automatic coffee machine for producing a coffee hot beverage. The coffee machine comprises a housing, not shown, as well as a coffee bean storage container 2 for receiving coffee beans, a water tank 3 for receiving water, a grinding mechanism 4 for grinding the coffee beans received in the coffee bean storage container 2, as well as a brewing chamber 5 for producing the coffee hot beverage from coffee beans ground by means of the grinding mechanism 4 from the coffee bean storage container and from scalded water from the water tank 3. The brewing chamber 5 communicates via further fluid paths 6 with a coffee outlet 9 arranged on the outside of the housing of the coffee machine 1, via which the coffee hot beverage produced by the coffee machine 1 can be filled into a suitable vessel, for example a coffee cup or the like (not shown).Furthermore, the coffee machine 1 can comprise a milk storage container 7 for receiving milk, which communicates with the coffee outlet 9 via milk paths 8. In addition, a triester container 10 can be provided for receiving triesters produced during the production of the coffee hot beverage. Finally, the coffee machine 1 comprises a control / regulation device 20 for controlling the coffee machine 1. Furthermore, the coffee machine according to the invention comprises a display device 21, which can be controlled by means of the control / regulation device 20 and in which information can be displayed.The control / regulation device 20 is set up and programmed for carrying out the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention executed by the control / regulating device 20 serves for the deactivation of a coffee machine 1 in the form of a fully automatic coffee machine.As shown in the schematic overview of FIG. 2, a service program SP is executed by the coffee machine 1 if the coffee machine 1 is to be put out of operation over a longer period of time. The service program SP can be started by a user of the coffee machine 1 via a user interface 25 with input unit 26 provided on the coffee machine 1. According to the method according to the invention, the service program SP includes the execution of one or more (service) measures M, with which the imminent deactivation of the coffee machine 1 is to be prepared and supported.The possible service measures M are measures M 1 of the first type and measures M 2 of the second type. The measures M 1 of the first type are automatically carried out by the coffee machine 1. The measures M 2 of the second type must be carried out by the user of the coffee machine, but the coffee machine 1 displays a corresponding request in the display device for carrying out the relevant measure(s). Furthermore, instructions can also be displayed in the display device 21 which support the user when carrying out the measures M 2 of the second type.According to FIG. 2, the service program SP comprises the following measures M 1 of the first type, which can be executed automatically by the coffee machine 1:a1) pumping out and also empty steams of fluid paths 6 present in the coffee machine 1 with the aid of a delivery device (not shown in FIG. 1 ) provided in the coffee machine 1 in the form of a pump unit or by heating the fluid paths 6 by means of a heating device provided in the coffee machine 1 and having electrical heating elements (not shown in FIG. 1 );b 1) flushing the brewing chamber 5 of the coffee machine 1 with water from the water tank 3;c1) Empty grinding of the coffee beans present in the coffee beans storage 2 by means of the grinding mechanism 4;d 1) the deactivation of electrical component 22 of coffee machine 1 by control / regulation device 20 of coffee machine 1.According to FIG. 2, the service program SP also includes the following measures M 2 of the second type:a2) displaying a prompt to the user to empty the milk reservoir 7;b2) displaying a request to the user to clean the milk storage container 7 and the milk paths 8 and / or the coffee outlet 9 of the coffee machine 1 that communicate fluidically with the milk storage container 7 and can be flown through by milk;c2) displaying a request to the user for emptying the water tank 3 of the coffee machine 1;d2) displaying a prompt to the user for emptying coffee beans present in the coffee beans storage container 2;e2) displaying a request to the user for emptying and / or cleaning a triester container 10;f2) displaying a request to the user may comprise or be a request for electrically disconnecting the coffee machine 1 from an external electric power supply 24.In addition to the respective request to the user according to the measures of the second type M-a2) to M-f2), information can be displayed by the coffee machine 1 in the display device 21 which assists the user in carrying out the respective measure M2 of the second type. For example, in connection with the measure M-c2), information can be displayed textually and graphically in the display device 21 which illustrates the removal of the water tanks 3 from the housing of the coffee machine 1 for emptying water and a subsequent replacement of the emptied water tank 3 into the housing.It is expediently possible for the user of the coffee machine 1 to configure which measures of the service program SP are carried out after the start thereof by the user. This configuration can be made by means of the control / regulation device 20 using the user interface 25 and the display device 21.List of reference characters1 Coffee machine 2 Coffee bean storage device 3 Water tank 4 Grinding mechanism 5 Brewing chamber 6 Fluid path 7 Milk storage container 8 Milk path 9 Coffee outlet 10 Triester container 20 Control / regulating device 21 Display device 22 Electrical component 23 Internet 24 Electrical power supply 25 User interface 26 Input unit SP Service program M 1 Measures of the first type M 2 Measures of the second type

Claims

Method for operating, in particular for taking out of operation, a coffee machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, - according to which a service program (SP) is executed in the coffee machine (1) when the coffee machine (1) is to be taken out of operation over a longer period of time, wherein preferably the service program (SP) can be started by a user of the coffee machine (1), - according to which the service program (SP), for preparing the taking out of operation of the coffee machine (1) for a longer period of time, comprises the coffee machine (1) carrying out at least one measure (M, M1) or / and the user displaying a request for carrying out at least one measure (M, M2).Method according to claim 1, characterised in that - the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is a pumping out of and / or discharge vapouring of at least one fluid path (6) present in the coffee machine (1) by the coffee machine (1); and / or in that - the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is the flushing of a brewing chamber (5) of the coffee machine; and / or in that - the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is a discharge grinding of the beans present in the coffee bean storage by means of the grinding mechanism (4).Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is a request to the user for emptying milk present in a milk storage container (7).Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that - the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is a request to the user for cleaning, in particular rinsing, at least one milk path (8) which fluidically communicates with the milk storage container (7) and through which milk can flow, and / or a coffee outlet (9) of the coffee machine (1) by the coffee machine (1); and / or in that - the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is the display of a request to the user for emptying a water tank (3) of the coffee machine (1); and / or in that - the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is the display of a request to the user for emptying coffee beans present in a coffee bean storage container (2).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is the display of a request to the user and / or a triester container (10).Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one measure (M, M2) comprises displaying a request to electrically disconnect said coffee maker (1) from an external electric power supply (24).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is a deactivation of at least one electrical component (22) of the coffee machine (1) by means of a control / regulation device (20) of the coffee machine (1).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display of the request comprises the display of at least one instruction to the user which describes how the relevant action (M, M2) is to be carried out.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user of the coffee machine can configure which measures (M, M1, M2) of the service program (SP) are carried out.Coffee machine (1), in particular fully automatic coffee machine, for producing a coffee hot beverage, - with a coffee bean storage container (2) for receiving coffee beans, with a water tank (3) for receiving water, with a grinding mechanism (4) for grinding the coffee beans received in the coffee bean storage container (2) and with a brewing chamber (5) for producing a coffee hot beverage from ground coffee beans from the coffee bean storage container (2) and from heated water from the water tank (2), - with a control / regulating device (20) for controlling the coffee machine (1), wherein the control / regulating device (20) is configured / programmed for carrying out the method according to the invention according to one of the preceding claims, having a display device (21), which can be controlled by means of the control / regulating device (20), for displaying a request to the user of the coffee machine (20).Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control / regulating device (20), in particular that of the coffee machine (1), cause the control / regulating device (20) to carry out the steps of the method according to one of Claims 1 to 9.

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