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 (1). 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

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating, in particular for decommissioning, a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, as well as a coffee machine or a fully automatic coffee machine which is set up / programmed to carry out this method.

[0002] Coffee machines are known, for example, from DE 10 2012 200 947 A1, DE 10 2011 055 264 A1, DE 10 2011 079 546 A1, DE 10 2021 119 231 A1, DE 10 2020 125 325 A1, WO 2020 / 051 601 A1 and DE 10 2013 113 499 A1.

[0003] Coffee machines in the form of so-called fully automatic coffee machines are often used in vacation homes. In these cases, these fully automatic coffee machines are frequently used while the residents are present, but typically remain unused for long periods when they are away. This can lead to the degradation of ingredients used to prepare the hot coffee, such as coffee beans, water, or milk, left in the fully automatic coffee machine during the absence. Furthermore, grounds and residual water can also accumulate in various collection containers and fluid channels in the fully automatic coffee machine. This, in turn, can lead to the formation of mold.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for operating a coffee machine which takes the above-mentioned problem into account.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.

[0006] The basic idea of the invention is therefore to equip a coffee machine or a fully automatic coffee machine with a service program that can be executed if the coffee machine or the fully automatic coffee machine is to be taken out of service for an extended period of time. "Extended period" means a period that is longer than the period typically elapsed between two preparation processes. Therefore, "extended period" expediently means a period of at least two, preferably at least several days. However, the term "extended period" can also encompass a period of at least one week, several weeks, at least one month, or even several months.

[0007] According to the invention, the service program includes measures that prevent ingredients left behind in the coffee machine from becoming dirty or even leading to mold formation. According to the invention, the service program includes measures that are carried out fully automatically and independently by the coffee machine, such as cleaning various components of the coffee machine or emptying various containers for ingredients. In addition, measures are also provided that cannot be carried out automatically by the coffee machine and must be performed manually by the user. In this case, the user is prompted by the service program to carry out the corresponding measures and is optionally also instructed on how to carry out said measures.As a result, the service program according to the invention effectively counteracts the undesirable effects mentioned above when the coffee machine or fully automatic coffee machine is to be taken out of service for a longer period of time.

[0008] The method according to the invention serves for operating, in particular for decommissioning, a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine. According to the method, a service program is executed in the coffee machine if the coffee machine is to be decommissioned for an extended 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 decommissioning 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.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one measure of the service program includes or is a pumping and / or emptying of at least one fluid path present in the coffee machine through the coffee machine. The term "fluid paths" refers here to any paths or channels provided in the coffee machine that carry a fluid, i.e., a gas or a liquid, for example, steam, water, or milk.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure may include or be the rinsing of a brewing chamber of the coffee machine. This measure counteracts contamination of the brewing chamber.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure can include or be a grinding of the beans present in the coffee bean storage unit by means of the grinder. This prevents coffee beans from being processed when the coffee machine is restarted that have lost a significant amount of their aroma due to the long storage time in the coffee bean storage unit.

[0012] According to the invention, the at least one measure of the service program can include or be a request to the user to empty milk present in a milk storage container. This prevents the milk from spoiling while the coffee machine is not in use.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the at least one measure of the service program can include or be a cleaning of at least one milk path fluidly communicating with the milk storage container and through which milk can flow, and / or a coffee outlet of the coffee machine, each by the coffee machine. Furthermore, contamination of said milk path or coffee outlet, in particular with spoiled milk or spoiled hot coffee beverage, is counteracted.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the at least one measure of the service program may include or be the display of a request to the user to empty a water tank of the coffee machine.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure may comprise or be the display of a request to the user to empty coffee beans present in a coffee bean storage container.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one measure may include or be the display of a prompt to the user to empty and clean a grounds container. This prevents grounds from remaining in the coffee machine during the downtime phase.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one action of displaying the request may include or be displaying at least one instruction to the user describing how to perform the action.

[0018] According to the invention, the at least one measure can include or be the display of a request to electrically disconnect the coffee machine from an external electrical power supply. This prevents the coffee machine from consuming unnecessary electrical power. Furthermore, disconnecting the coffee machine 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 non-operational phase can be prevented.

[0019] According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the at least one measure can include 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 protected and, on the other hand, the energy consumption of the coffee machine during the non-operational phase is reduced. Said electrical component can, in particular, be a communication unit for establishing a data transmission connection between the coffee machine and the Internet.

[0020] The invention further relates to a coffee machine, in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, for producing a hot coffee beverage. The coffee machine comprises a coffee bean storage container for holding coffee beans, a water tank for holding water, a grinder for grinding the coffee beans held in the coffee bean storage container, and a brewing chamber for producing a hot coffee beverage from the ground coffee beans and 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 above-explained advantages of the method according to the invention are therefore transferred to the coffee machine according to the invention.In addition, the coffee machine according to the invention comprises a display device controllable by means of the control / regulation device for displaying a request to the user of the coffee machine.

[0021] A solution to the aforementioned problem is also provided by a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control / regulation device, in particular that of the aforementioned coffee machine, cause the device to perform the steps of the method described here, i.e., the method according to the invention, optionally also with the corresponding developments. As a result, the advantages mentioned so far can be achieved with very little effort and thus also in a particularly sustainable manner.

[0022] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0023] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0024] Preferred 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 identical components.

[0025] They show, schematically: Fig. 1 shows in a roughly schematic, highly simplified form the structure of a coffee machine according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic representation illustrating the service program of the method according to the invention.

[0026] The Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a coffee machine 1 in the form of a fully automatic coffee machine for preparing a hot coffee beverage. The coffee machine comprises a housing (not shown) and a coffee bean reservoir 2 for holding coffee beans, a water tank 3 for holding water, a grinder 4 for grinding the coffee beans held in the coffee bean reservoir 2, and a brewing chamber 5 for preparing the hot coffee beverage from coffee beans ground by the grinder 4 from the coffee bean reservoir 2 and from brewed water from the water tank 3. The water tank 3, the grinder 4, and the brewing chamber 5 communicate fluidly with one another via fluid paths 6.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 hot coffee beverage produced by the coffee machine 1 can be filled into a suitable container, for example a coffee cup or the like (not shown).

[0027] Furthermore, the coffee machine 1 can comprise a milk storage container 7 for holding milk, which communicates with the coffee outlet 9 via milk paths 8. Furthermore, a grounds container 10 can be provided for holding grounds accrued during the preparation of the hot coffee 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 the control / regulation device 20 and in which information can be displayed.

[0028] The control / regulation device 20 is configured and programmed to carry out the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention executed by the control / regulation device 20 serves to decommission a coffee machine 1 in the form of a fully automatic coffee machine.

[0029] As shown in the schematic overview of the Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a service program SP is executed by the coffee machine 1 if the coffee machine 1 is to be decommissioned for an extended period of time. The service program SP can be started by a user of the coffee machine 1 via a user interface 25 provided on the coffee machine 1 with an input unit 26. According to the method according to the invention, the service program SP includes the execution of one or more (service) measures M, which are intended to prepare for and support the impending decommissioning of the coffee machine 1.

[0030] The possible service measures M are measures of the first type M1 and measures of the second type M2. The first type M1 measures are carried out automatically by coffee machine 1. The second type M2 measures must be carried out by the coffee machine user; however, coffee machine 1 displays a corresponding prompt to perform the respective measure(s) on the display device. In addition, instructions can be displayed—also on the display device 21—to assist the user in carrying out the second type M2 measures.

[0031] The SP service program includes Fig. 2 the following measures M1 of the first type, which can be carried out automatically by the coffee machine 1: a1) pumping out and emptying the fluid paths 6 present in the coffee machine 1 by means of a conveying device provided in the coffee machine 1 (in Fig. 1 not shown) 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 with electrical heating elements (in Fig. 1 not shown); b1) rinsing the brewing chamber 5 of the coffee machine 1 with water from the water tank 3; c1) grinding the coffee beans present in the coffee bean storage 2 by means of the grinder 4; d1) the deactivation of electrical components 22 of the coffee machine 1 by the control / regulation device 20 of the coffee machine 1.

[0032] The SP service program includes Fig. 2 also the following measures M2 of the second type: a2) displaying a request to the user to empty the milk storage container 7; b2) displaying a request to the user to clean the milk storage container 7 and the milk paths 8 fluidically communicating with the milk storage container 7 and through which milk can flow and / or the coffee outlet 9 of the coffee machine 1; c2) displaying a request to the user to empty the water tank 3 of the coffee machine 1; d2) displaying a request to the user to empty coffee beans present in the coffee bean storage 2; e2) displaying a request to the user to empty and / or clean a pomace container 10; f2) displaying a request to the user to electrically disconnect the coffee machine 1 from an external electrical power supply 24.

[0033] In addition to the respective prompt to the user according to the second-type measures M-a2) to M-f2), the coffee machine 1 can display information in the display device 21 that assists the user in carrying out the respective second-type measure M2. For example, in connection with measure M-c2), textual and graphic information can be displayed in the display device 21 that illustrates the removal of the water tank 3 from the housing of the coffee machine 1 for emptying water and the subsequent reinsertion of the emptied water tank 3 into the housing.

[0034] According to the invention, the user of the coffee machine 1 can configure which measures of the service program SP are to be performed after the user has started it. This configuration can be carried out using the control / regulation device 20 using the user interface 25 and the display device 21. List of reference symbols 1 coffee machine 2 coffee bean storage 3 water tank 4 grinder 5 Brewing chamber 6 Fluid path 7 Milk storage container 8 Milk Trail 9 Coffee outlet 10 pomace container 20 Control / regulation device 21 Display device 22 electrical components 23 Internet 24 electrical power supply 25 User interface 26 Input unit SP Service Program M1 First-order measures M2 Second type measures

Claims

[1] Method for operating, in particular for decommissioning, 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) if the coffee machine (1) is to be taken out of operation for a longer period of time, wherein the service program (SP) can preferably be started by a user of the coffee machine (1), - according to which the service program (SP), for preparing the decommissioning of the coffee machine (1) for a longer period, comprises the execution of at least one action (M, M1) by the coffee machine (1) and / or the display of a request to execute at least one action (M, M2) by the user, characterized by that the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is a request to the user to empty milk present in a milk storage container (7), and / or characterized by that the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises displaying a request to electrically disconnect the coffee machine (1) from an external electrical power supply (24), and / or characterized by that the user of the coffee machine (1) can configure which measures (M, M1, M2) of the service program (SP) are carried out. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is a pumping out and / or emptying of at least one fluid path (6) present in the coffee machine (1) through the coffee machine (1); and / or that - the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is the rinsing of a brewing chamber (5) of the coffee machine (1); and / or that - the at least one measure (M, M1) comprises or is an empty grinding of the beans present in a coffee bean store (2) by means of the grinder (4). [3] Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by , that - the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is a request to the user to clean, in particular rinse, at least one milk path (8) fluidically communicating with the milk storage container (7) and through which milk can flow, and / or a coffee outlet (9) of the coffee machine (1) through the coffee machine (1); and / or that - the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is the display of a request to the user to empty a water tank (3) of the coffee machine (1); and / or that - the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is the display of a request to the user to empty coffee beans present in a coffee bean storage container (2). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the at least one measure (M, M2) comprises or is the display of a request to the user to empty and clean a pomace container (10). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by 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 a control / regulation device (20) of the coffee machine (1). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that displaying the request comprises displaying at least one instruction to the user describing how the relevant action (M, M2) is to be carried out. [7] Coffee machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, for producing a hot coffee beverage, - with a coffee bean storage (2) for holding coffee beans, with a water tank (3) for holding water, with a grinder (4) for grinding the coffee beans held in the coffee bean storage (2) and with a brewing chamber (5) for producing a hot coffee beverage from ground coffee beans from the coffee bean storage (2) and from heated water from the water tank (3), - with a control / regulation device (20) for controlling the coffee machine (1), wherein the control / regulation device (20) is set up / programmed to carry out the method according to the invention according to one of the preceding claims, - with a display device (21) controllable by means of the control / regulation device (20) for displaying a request to the user of the coffee machine (1). [8] Computer program product, comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control / regulation device (20), in particular that of the coffee machine (1), cause the control / regulation device (20) to carry out the steps of the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.

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