Machine and method for preparing an extracted beverage

Abstract

The machine (1) for preparing an extracted beverage comprises a device for generating hot water, which comprises a water supply (2) for releasing the hot water, a holder (4) arranged under the water supply (2) for portion packages (6) with an extracting ingredient (7), a control and a machine having a recognition unit with an optical sensor connected to the control, the extraction process being controllable depending on the detection of a color change by the optical sensor (10). The invention further relates to a method for preparing an extracted beverage, using such a color change for controlling the extraction process.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for preparing extracted beverages, comprising a device for generating hot water, the machine having a water supply for releasing the hot water, a holder arranged under the water supply for portion packages with extraction ingredients, a control and an identification unit connected to said control and equipped with an optical sensor, as well as to a method for preparing extracted beverages, comprising the following steps: fitting a portion package with extraction ingredients in a holder of a machine for preparing extracted beverages, opening the portion package and pouring hot water through the water supply onto the extraction ingredients in the portion package to prepare the extracted beverage. [Background technology]

[0002] WO 2019 / 141871 discloses a portion package consisting of a container made of a filter material, inside which an extraction material is arranged. The portion package can be opened automatically in a machine for preparing an extracted beverage, and then hot water can be supplied to the extraction material in the portion package. It is known for such portion packages to be provided with an identification unit, by means of which a certain type of portion package can be identified, for example, in order to be able to set the extraction amount or the extraction temperature or another parameter during the preparation of the beverage. A disadvantage when preparing an extracted beverage with such a portion package is that the progress of the individual steps during the preparation is only poorly detected. For example, in the case of incomplete opening, hot water can flow in without completely wetting the extraction material with the hot water. Furthermore, errors in identification can lead to undesired program progression, which can increase the risk of injury, for example, due to the hot water being discharged in an unsteady manner. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine and a method for preparing an extracted beverage which allows for a more accurate monitoring of the extraction process during the production of the extracted beverage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This problem is solved by a machine having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 9.

[0005] In the machine according to the invention, the identification unit includes an optical sensor, and the brewing process can be controlled depending on the detection of a color change by the optical sensor. This allows a timely monitoring of the brewing process, since the brewing process can be controlled depending on the detection of a predetermined color change by the sensor. For example, reliability can be increased if the inflow of hot water via the water supply is prevented when an already brewed portion package, the surface of which of the brewed ingredients has a predetermined color, is detected by the sensor. Thus, optical identification can be used to prevent the supply of hot water to already brewed portion packages.

[0006] Preferably, the portion package has a coating layer made of a water-soluble material, the color change of which can be detected via an optical sensor during the extraction process, so that the extraction process can be monitored more accurately, since the color change due to at least partial dissolution of the coating layer can be detected, which allows a more accurate discrimination between already extracted portion packages and not yet extracted portion packages and allows identification of the stage at which the portion package is in the extraction process.

[0007] For good positioning, the optical sensor can be fixed to a water supply that is arranged above the portion package at least during the brewing process. In this case, the optical sensor can include a light source, for example an LED, so that light is reflected when the upper surface of the portion package is illuminated. If the coating layer is still present, the light is reflected by the coating layer, whereas after the coating layer has dissolved, the light is reflected by the brewing material, which can be recognized as a color change.

[0008] The coating layer preferably contains milk powder, especially white milk powder, which is strongly distinguished from the dark brewing material, especially coffee powder. Alternatively or additionally, the coating layer may contain sugar, which is also light in color and visually different from the dark brewing material. The brewing material may be tea leaves instead of coffee powder.

[0009] Advantageously, the water supply can be moved via a drive, and the surface of the brewing material with the coating layer can be wetted with hot water when moving the water supply, so that a relatively large area of ​​the surface of the brewing material can be directly contacted with the hot water from the water supply, which facilitates the dissolution of the coating layer at the start of the brewing process. In this case, the water supply can be moved program-controlled over the surface in order to wet as much of the surface as possible with hot water.

[0010] In another embodiment, the identification unit includes at least one further sensor, in particular a proximity sensor. Via this proximity sensor, the first shape of the portion package and the second shape of the portion package, which is changed from the first shape, can be detected without contact. Different shapes of the portion package can thus be monitored. In this case, the first and second shapes of the portion package can correspond to different states, for example the first shape can correspond to a closed state of the portion package, whereas the second shape corresponds to an open state in which the closure element has moved, for example due to a change of state by pivoting. Such a proximity sensor can detect the external shaping of the portion package without contact. For this purpose, a capacitive sensor is suitable. Alternatively, other proximity sensors can be used, such as light barriers or ultrasonic sensors. Alternatively, only one sensor can be used together with the optical sensor described above to detect color and shape changes in the portion package.

[0011] In the method according to the invention, the portion package with the brewing material and the covering layer is first placed in a holder of a machine for preparing an extracted beverage, the portion package is already opened or is opened in this step, and then hot water is poured via the water supply onto the brewing material in the portion package in order to prepare the extracted beverage. Here, the portion package has a covering layer made of a water-soluble material, and a color change during the brewing process can be detected via the optical sensor of the recognition unit. This allows the brewing process to be monitored more precisely, in particular to determine whether the brewing material in the portion package has already been brewed.

[0012] Preferably, an optical sensor can be used to detect whether an already used portion package is placed under the water supply, so that in this case the release of hot water can be blocked via the control unit.

[0013] A color change in the coating layer of the portion package can be produced by mixing the two layers, in particular after adding boiling water. Alternatively or additionally, a color change in the coating layer of the portion package can be produced by a thermochromatic cover. Furthermore, a color change in the coating layer of the portion package can be produced by clarifying the ingredients.

[0014] The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a machine according to the invention for preparing an extracted beverage; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The machine 1 for preparing an extracted beverage comprises a water supply 2 for hot water, which is connected to a device for pumping and heating water, for example consisting of a tank, or to a water main. The machine comprises a control unit, by means of which the discharge of the hot water in the water supply 2 and, optionally, also the temperature of the hot water can be controlled.

[0017] The water supply 2 is provided with an outlet 3 which is arranged on a holder 4 for receiving portion packages 6. The holder 4 includes an outflow opening 5 by means of which the extracted beverage can be discharged into another container, for example a coffee can or a cup.

[0018] The portion package 6 contains a packet of filter material inside which is arranged an brewing ingredient 7, in particular coffee powder or tea leaves. On top of the brewing ingredient 7 a covering layer 9 is arranged.

[0019] On the upper side, the portion package comprises a number of closure elements 8 which can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position of the portion package 6. The portion package 6 may be constructed as disclosed in DE 10 2018101337 A1, to which reference is made here. Alternatively, the portion package 6 may be inserted into the holder already in an upwardly open position.

[0020] An optical sensor 10 is fixed to the water supply 2, by means of which a color change on the top surface of the portion package 6 can be detected. The optical sensor preferably has a light source, by means of which light is emitted onto the top surface of the portion package 6, as diagrammatically indicated by the line 11. The reflected light can then be detected by means of the optical sensor. The optical sensor 10 can optionally be provided with a display 12, e.g. a colored LED or another display means, for visualizing the optical recognition.

[0021] In the unbrewed state, the portion package 6 has on its upper surface a coating layer 9 of a water-soluble material, which may for example contain milk powder and / or sugar, which has a different colour to the underlying brewing ingredients 7, in particular coffee powder, so that the unbrewed state of the portion package 6 can be easily detected.

[0022] During the brewing process, hot water is supplied to the covering layer 9 via the water supply 2 and the discharge 3, as a result of which the water-soluble material is dissolved and removed from the upper surface of the brewing material 7. After the brewing process, the upper surface of the brewing material 7 is thus at least partially, preferably mostly, free of the covering layer 9, which is detected via the optical sensor 10 as a color change. If it is forgotten to remove the already brewed portion package 6 from the holder 4 before starting the next brewing process, the release of hot water in the discharge 3 can be switched off via the control unit.

[0023] The water supply 2 is preferably arranged movably so that the surface of the portion package can be wetted with hot water not only in dots but also in stripes. In this case, the water supply 2 can be moved under program control in a certain pattern, in particular horizontally, in order to wet the top surface as completely as possible with hot water. After the extraction process, the water supply 2 can optionally be removed above the portion package, so that the portion package 6 can be more easily removed from the holder 4 and a new portion package 6 can be inserted. Furthermore, by moving the optical sensor along with it, multiple measuring points are also possible, which increases reliability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1 machine 2 Water supply section 3 Discharge section 4 Holder 5 Outlet opening 6 Portion Package 7 Extraction materials 8 Closure Elements 9 Covering layer 10 Sensors 11 lines 12 Display section

Claims

1. A machine (1) for preparing an extracted beverage, comprising a device for producing hot water, the machine (1) having a water supply (2) for discharging the hot water, a holder (4) arranged below the water supply (2) for portion packages (6) with an extracting ingredient (7), a control unit, and an identification unit connected to the control unit and comprising an optical sensor, A machine (1) characterized in that the extraction process can be controlled depending on the detection of a color change by said optical sensor (10).

2. 2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion package (6) has a coating layer (9) made of a water-soluble material, the color change of which can be detected during the extraction process via the optical sensor (10).

3. 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical sensor (10) is fixed to the water supply (2).

4. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering layer (9) in the portion package comprises milk powder.

5. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating layer (9) in the portion package contains sugar.

6. 2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the water supply (2) is movable via a drive, and the surface of the brewing material (7) having the coating layer (9) can be wetted with hot water when the water supply (2) is moved.

7. 2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification unit comprises at least one further sensor.

8. 8. The machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the further sensor is configured as a proximity sensor, via which the first shape of the portion package (6) and the second shape of the portion package (6) changed from the first shape can be detected without contact.

9. 1. A method for preparing an extracted beverage, comprising the steps of: - fitting a portion package (6) with brewing ingredients (7) into a holder (4) of a machine (1) for preparing brewed beverages; - pouring hot water through the water supply (2) onto the brewing ingredients (7) in the portion packages to prepare an brewed beverage; In a method comprising:

1. A method characterized in that the extraction process is controlled by relying on the detection of a color change by an optical sensor (10).

10. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the portion package (6) has a coating layer (9) made of a water-soluble material, and a color change in the coating layer (9) during the extraction process can be detected via an optical sensor (10).

11. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the portion package (6) comprises a coating layer (9) made of a water-soluble material containing milk powder and / or sugar, and that the extracted portion package (6) can be detected via the optical sensor (10), thereby preventing the release of hot water in the water supply section (2) via the control section.

12. 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the colour change in the coating layer (9) of the portion package (6) is produced by mixing two layers.

13. 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the colour change in the covering layer (9) of the portion package (6) is produced by a thermochromatic cover.

14. 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the colour change in the coating layer (9) of the portion package (6) is produced by the clarification of an ingredient.

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