Beverage or food preparation systems

Abstract

1. A container for containing precursor materials for use in a machine for preparing beverages and / or foods or precursors to beverages and / or foods, the container comprising a machine-readable code storing preparation information for use in a preparation process carried out by the machine, the code including a reference portion (R) for locating the code and a data portion (D) for storing the preparation information, the data portion including first and second predetermined locations that partially overlap, the first and second predetermined locations encoding three conditions as follows: absence of a data unit at both locations; presence of a data unit at the first location and absence of a data unit at the second location; and presence of a data unit at the second location and absence of a data unit at the first location.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to an electrically operated beverage or food preparation system in which beverages or foods are prepared from pre-portioned capsules. [Background technology]

[0002] A system for preparing a beverage includes a beverage preparation machine and a capsule. The capsule contains a serving of beverage-forming precursor material, such as ground coffee or tea. The beverage preparation machine is configured to perform a beverage preparation process on the capsule, typically by exposing the precursor material to pressurized and heated water. Treating the capsule in this manner causes the precursor material to be at least partially extracted from the capsule as a beverage.

[0003] This configuration of beverage preparation machine has grown in popularity due to 1) improved user convenience compared to traditional beverage preparation machines (e.g., compared to manually operated stovetop espresso makers), and 2) an improved beverage preparation process in which brewing information encoded by a code on the capsule to define a recipe is read by the machine, which in turn uses the recipe to optimize the brewing process in a capsule-specific manner. In particular, the encoded brewing information may include selected operating parameters in the beverage preparation process, including fluid temperature, fluid pressure, brewing duration, and fluid volume.

[0004] EP 2594171 A1 discloses a machine that reads a code from the underside of the flange of the capsule. A drawback of such codes is that their coding density is limited, i.e., the amount of formulation information that can be coded is limited. A further drawback is that the codes are very noticeable and may be considered aesthetically unpleasant. Yet another drawback is that as machines are developed to provide an enhanced user experience, the codes may become incompatible.

[0005] Therefore, despite the efforts already expended in developing such systems, further improvements are desirable. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides a container for containing precursor material for use in a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food or a precursor to a beverage and / or food, the container including machine-readable code storing preparation information for use in a preparation process carried out by the machine, the machine being controlled based on the preparation information to prepare the beverage and / or food or precursor to the beverage and / or food. As used herein, reference to a "code" may include one or more iterations of the code.

[0007] In embodiments, the container includes a body portion having a storage portion for containing the precursor material and a closure member for closing the storage portion. In embodiments, the cord is disposed on the closure member. In embodiments, the storage portion has a cavity extending depthwise from the closure member. The container may have a maximum depth that is less than the diameter, which may be measured at the opening of the storage portion. In embodiments, the body portion includes a flange portion for connecting the storage portion to the closure member. In embodiments, the storage portion cavity extends depthwise from the flange portion. The flange portion may present a generally flat peripheral rim for receiving the closure member. In embodiments, the flange portion is flat. As used herein, the term "flat" with respect to a flange portion may refer to a flange portion that is disposed to extend completely or substantially in the lateral and longitudinal directions (e.g., with major components in those directions but not in the depth direction). In embodiments, the container is alternatively embodied as a packet.

[0008] In an embodiment, the code comprises a reference portion (R) for locating the code and a data portion (D) for storing preparation information, the data portion comprising a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position that partially overlap, the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position partially overlapping each other. the absence of data units at both locations; and the presence of a data unit at a first location and the absence of a data unit at a second location; the presence of a data unit at the second location and the absence of a data unit at the first location; By encoding three conditions (e.g., one of them) as, the encoded conditions are arranged compactly.

[0009] By implementing the predetermined locations so that they overlap each other, the three conditions to be encoded are more compactly located compared to the alternative of having two separate predetermined locations (e.g., requiring sufficient separation to distinguish one location from the other, and also requiring the data units to be sufficiently separated to allow their centers to be identified as separate coordinates).

[0010] In an embodiment, the data units are configured to be located by the centers of multiple data units such that an instance of both a first and second predetermined location containing partially overlapping data units is prevented from encoding the fourth condition, for example, because the center of an object containing two of the overlapping data units is not at the center of one of the predetermined locations. Because data units are located by the centers of the data units, the center location of an object containing two partially overlapping units will have a location that is not assigned to the center of either of the predetermined locations, and therefore cannot encode the subsequent condition in which both data units are present.

[0011] The presence or absence of a data unit at a predetermined position can, for example, encode a logical 0 or 1 (or vice versa), respectively, as binary information of preparation information. Thus, the first and second predetermined positions can be coded 2 bits in length as 1,0 or 0,1 or 0,0, but cannot code 1,1. Each of the three conditions may be assigned a different characteristic of the preparation process (e.g., they may be considered preparation information).

[0012] In an embodiment, the data unit and the predetermined location are of equal size (e.g., so that the unit completely occupies / extends to the boundaries of the predetermined location). By implementing the units to be of the same size, their presence (or absence) can be conveniently determined by the same algorithmic coding.

[0013] In an embodiment, a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location that partially overlap overlap by less than half of the area of ​​the data units of the predetermined locations (e.g., less than half of the area of ​​the first predetermined location is common to the area of ​​the second predetermined location). Such a restriction may allow a data unit at the first or second predetermined location to be conveniently identified (e.g., by having its center at the center of the first or second predetermined location).

[0014] In embodiments, the partially overlapping first and second predetermined locations overlap by more than 5%, 10%, or 20% of the area of ​​the predetermined locations. Such a minimal overlap can ensure compact placement of the first and second predetermined locations.

[0015] In an embodiment, the partially overlapping first and second predetermined locations are positioned on the coding line E, e.g., so that the coding line extends through their centers. Such a configuration can allow for convenient location of the first and second predetermined locations, so that they can determine the presence or absence of a data unit. For example, since the coding line E is at a known position relative to the reference portion R, in particular, the centers of the first and second overlapping locations are at a known angular distance (or other distance) relative to the reference line r defined by the reference portion.

[0016] In an embodiment, the data portion comprises at least one data unit located at a coding distance d from the starting position along the imaginary coding line E as a variable that at least partially encodes the value of a parameter of the preparation information. In an embodiment, the coding line(s) are circular and the distance(s) d are angular distances. In an embodiment, there are multiple coding lines. In an embodiment, at least one data unit is located at any consecutive coding distance d from the starting position along the imaginary coding line E.

[0017] In an embodiment, the condition encoded by the overlapping predetermined location is a condition associated with the parameter encoded by the encoded distance. For example, if the parameter encoded by the encoded distance is the operating time of a heat exchanger, the condition may be one of three temperatures, or if the parameter encoded by the encoded distance is the operating time of a pump, the condition may be one of three conditions for whether the pumped fluid moves around or through the vessel.

[0018] The present disclosure provides a substrate for attachment to a container for containing precursor material for use by a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food or a precursor to a beverage and / or food; or for attachment to a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food, the substrate comprising a cord including any feature of the cord of the previous embodiment or another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0019] As used herein, the term "substrate" may refer to any suitable carrier for the cord that can be used to connect the cord to a container or directly to a machine, examples of which include stickers; cardboard members for receiving adhesive strips; and other suitable configurations.

[0020] The present disclosure provides a code for a container for containing precursor materials for use by a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food and / or a precursor to a beverage and / or food, the code including a machine-readable code. The code may comprise any of the features of the code of the preceding embodiment or another embodiment disclosed herein. The code may be disposed on a substrate for attachment to a container as defined herein; or a machine as defined herein; or other component, including, for example, a handheld component configured for a user to present to a code reader of the machine. The code may be formed on a closure member of the container.

[0021] The present disclosure provides a machine for preparing beverages and / or foods or precursors to beverages and / or foods from a container of any of the preceding embodiments or another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0022] In an embodiment, the machine comprises a code reading system for reading the code on the container, a processing unit for processing the precursor material in the container, and an electrical circuit for controlling the processing unit based on the preparation information read from the code.

[0023] As used herein, the term "based on" with respect to preparation information may refer to a direct relationship (e.g., values ​​of parameters of a recipe are directly encoded in the code), or rules are used with stored relationships to look up one or more of the values ​​using the preparation information as an identifier. A code reader may include an image capture unit (e.g., a camera), a lens, and an outermost aperture (e.g., a reading window). The outermost portion of a code reader is sometimes called a reading head.

[0024] In an embodiment, the processing unit includes a vessel processing unit and a fluid processing system; and the electrical circuitry is configured to control the vessel processing unit and the fluid processing system based on the preparation information read from the code.

[0025] In an embodiment, the processing unit is configured as a bulk material processing unit; and the electrical circuit is configured to control the bulk material processing unit to process bulk precursor material dispensed from or placed in the container based on formulation information read from the code.

[0026] In embodiments, the electrical circuitry is implemented as one or more processors configured to perform the disclosed steps performed by the code reading system (e.g., including determining the validity condition) and / or the steps performed by the processing unit to process the precursor material in the container. The processor may execute program code stored on electronic memory and / or may implement programmable logic, e.g., as a logic array, gate array, structured array, etc.

[0027] In an embodiment, the electrical circuitry of the machine implements the method of reading formulation information from the code disclosed herein.

[0028] In an embodiment, the electrical circuit is configured to convert the coded distance(s) (d) into values ​​for the parameters using rules stored in the electronic memory of the electrical circuit.

[0029] The present disclosure provides a system comprising a container according to any of the preceding embodiments or another embodiment disclosed herein and a machine according to any of the preceding embodiments or another embodiment disclosed herein or for preparing a beverage and / or food precursor.

[0030] The present disclosure provides for the use of a container of any of the preceding embodiments or another embodiment disclosed herein for a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food or a precursor to a beverage and / or food according to any of the preceding embodiments or another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0031] The present disclosure provides a method for encoding formulation information in a code, which may be placed on a container. The method may implement features of any of the preceding embodiments or other embodiments disclosed herein.

[0032] In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of locating a data portion of the code relative to a reference portion of the code, locating overlapping first and second predetermined locations of the data portion, the absence of data units at both locations; and the presence of a data unit at a first location and the absence of a data unit at a second location; the presence of a data unit at the second location and the absence of a data unit at the first location; and encoding three conditions (e.g., one of them) as such that the encoded conditions are arranged compactly.

[0033] The present disclosure provides a method for reading preparation information from a code for use in a preparation process in which a machine is controlled based on the preparation information to prepare a beverage and / or food or a precursor to a beverage and / or food, the method may implement features of any of the above-described embodiments or another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0034] In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of locating a reference portion (R) of the code, reading a data portion (D) of the code positioned relative to the located reference portion, and reading overlapping first and second predetermined locations of the data portion (e.g. to determine one of three conditions), wherein the overlapping first and second predetermined locations are: the absence of data units at both locations; and the presence of a data unit at a first location and the absence of a data unit at a second location; the presence of a data unit at the second location and the absence of a data unit at the first location; , and encoding the three conditions as

[0035] The method may include determining whether the unit is based on a predetermined location by determining whether the center of the unit is located at (including close to) the center of the predetermined location.

[0036] The method may determine that for two data units at both the first and second predetermined positions, the data units are not located at the predetermined position because the center of the object formed by the two data units is not located at the center of the predetermined position.

[0037] The method may be carried out as part of a method for preparing a beverage or food or a precursor to a beverage and / or food, wherein a processing unit is controlled based on the preparation information to perform a preparation process on the precursor material.

[0038] The present disclosure provides an electrical circuit for carrying out the method of the foregoing embodiment or any other embodiment disclosed herein.

[0039] The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium containing program code that may be executable on one or more processors to perform the method of the foregoing embodiment or another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0040] The foregoing summary is provided for the purpose of summarizing some embodiments to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Furthermore, the above-described and / or preceding embodiments may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further embodiments. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description, brief description of the drawings, and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0041] Aspects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for beverage or food preparation. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a machine of the system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of a fluid regulation system for the machine of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3A-3C are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of the container processing system of the machine of FIG. 2 in open and closed positions. [Figure 5] 3A-3C are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of the container processing system of the machine of FIG. 2 in open and closed positions. [Figure 6]FIG. 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of the machine of FIG. 2, including a bulk material handling unit. [Figure 7] 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the control circuitry of the machine of FIG. 2. [Figure 8] 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a container of the system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a container of the system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a preparation process performed by the system of FIG. 1. [Figure 11] 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of a cord for the container of the system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process for extracting formulation information from the code of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process for extracting formulation information from the code of FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the cord embodiment of FIG. 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Before describing several embodiments of the system, it should be understood that the system is not limited to the details of construction or method steps set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the system is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0043] The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following description.

[0044] As used herein, the term "machine" may refer to an electrically operated device capable of preparing beverages and / or foods from precursor materials, or from pre-precursor materials, precursor materials that can subsequently be prepared into beverages and / or foods. The machine may perform the preparation by one or more of the following processes: diluting, heating, cooling, mixing, frothing, dissolving, steeping, soaking, extracting, conditioning, infusing, grinding, and other similar processes. The machine may be sized for use on a countertop; for example, the preparation machine may be less than 70 cm in length, width, and height. As used herein, the term "preparing" with respect to beverages and / or foods may refer to at least partial preparation of the beverage and / or food (e.g., a beverage may be prepared in whole or in part by the machine, and an end user may manually add additional fluids, including milk and / or water, prior to consumption).

[0045] As used herein, the term "container" may refer to any configuration for containing a precursor material, e.g., a pre-portioned amount, such as a single serving. The container may have a maximum capacity that can contain only a single serving of precursor material. The container may be single-use and, for example, may undergo a physical change after the preparation process, such as perforation to provide a fluid to the precursor material, perforation to provide a beverage / food from the container, or opening by a user to extract the precursor material. The container may be configured to operate with a container processing unit of the machine and may include, for example, a flange for alignment and for passing the container through or placing the container onto the unit. The container may include a rupture portion configured to rupture when subjected to a specific pressure to deliver the beverage / food. The container may have a membrane for closing the container. The container may have various shapes, including one or more of a frustum, cylinder, disk, hemisphere, packet, or other similar shapes. The container may be formed from various materials, such as metal, plastic, paper, or a combination thereof. The material may be selected to be one or more of: food-safe; able to withstand the pressure and / or temperature of the preparation process; and biodegradable. A container may be defined as a capsule, which may have an internal volume of 20 to 100 mL. Capsules include coffee capsules, such as Nespresso® capsules or Nescafe® capsules (including Classic, Professional, Vertuo, Dolce Gusto, or other capsules). A container may be defined as a receptacle, which may have an internal volume of 150 to 350 mL. Receptacles are typically intended for consumption by an end user and include a pot for consumption via utensils including a spoon and a cup for drinking from. A container may be defined as a packet, which may be formed from a flexible material including plastic or foil. A packet may have an internal volume of 150 to 350 mL, or 200 to 300 mL, or 50 to 150 mL.

[0046] As used herein, the terms "external device" or "external electronic device" or "peripheral device" may include electronic components external to the machine, for example, electronic components co-located with the machine or electronic components remote from the machine that communicate with the machine over a computer network. An external device may include a communication interface for communicating with the machine and / or a server system. An external device may include devices including smartphones, PDAs, video game controllers, tablets, laptops, or other similar devices.

[0047] As used herein, the term "server system" may refer to an electronic component external to a machine, e.g., an electronic component located remotely from the machine and communicating with the machine via a computer network. A server system may include a communication interface for communicating with the machine and / or external devices. A server system may include a network-based computer (e.g., a remote server), a cloud-based computer, or any other server system.

[0048] As used herein, the terms "system" or "beverage or food preparation system" may refer to any combination of two or more of a beverage or food preparation machine, a container, a server system, and peripheral devices.

[0049] As used herein, the term "beverage" may refer to any substance that can be processed into a drinkable substance, which may be chilled or hot. Beverages may be one or more of a solid (e.g., a solid suspended in a liquid), a liquid, a gel, a paste. Beverages may include tea, coffee, hot chocolate, milk, juice, vitamin compositions, herbal teas / infusions, infused / flavored water, and other substances. As used herein, the term "food" may refer to any substance that can be processed into nutrients for eating, which may be chilled or hot. Food may be one or more of a solid, liquid, gel, a paste. Food may include yogurt, mousse, parfait, soup, ice cream, sorbet, custard, smoothie, and other substances. It is understood that there is some overlap between the definitions of beverage and food, for example, a beverage may be a food, and thus a machine that is said to prepare a beverage or a food does not exclude the preparation of both.

[0050] As used herein, the term "precursor material" may refer to any material that can be processed to form part or all of a beverage or food product. Precursor materials may include one or more of powder, crystal, liquid, gel, solid, and others. Examples of beverage-forming precursor materials include ground coffee, milk powder, tea leaves, cocoa powder, vitamin compositions, herbs for forming herbal teas / infusions, flavorings, and other similar materials. Examples of food-forming precursor materials include dried vegetables or stocks as anhydrous soup powders, powdered milk, flour-based powders including custard, powdered yogurt or ice cream, and other similar materials. Precursor material may also refer to any pre-precursor material that can be processed into a precursor material as defined above, i.e., any precursor material that can be subsequently processed into a beverage and / or food product. In one example, a pre-precursor material includes coffee beans that can be ground and / or heated (e.g., roasted) into a precursor material.

[0051] Precursor material may also refer to any pre-precursor material that can be processed into a precursor material as defined above, i.e., any precursor material that can be subsequently processed into a beverage and / or food product. In one example, the pre-precursor material includes coffee beans that can be ground and / or heated (e.g., roasted) into the precursor material.

[0052] As used herein, the term "fluid" (with respect to a fluid supplied by a fluid conditioning system) may include one or more of water, milk, etc. As used herein, the term "conditioning" with respect to a fluid may refer to changing its physical attributes and may include one or more of heating or cooling, agitating (including frothing by whipping to introduce foam and mixing to introduce turbulence), portioning into single serving amounts suitable for use in single serving containers, pressurizing to, for example, brewing pressure, carbonation, filtering / purifying, or other conditioning process.

[0053] As used herein, the term "processing unit" may refer to a configuration capable of processing precursor materials into beverages or foods. It may refer to a configuration capable of processing pre-precursor materials into precursor materials.

[0054] As used herein, the term "container processing unit" may refer to a configuration capable of processing a container to derive an associated beverage or food product from a precursor material. The container processing unit may be configured to process the precursor material by one or more of the following processing steps: diluting, heating, cooling, mixing, frothing, dissolving, immersing, steeping, extracting, conditioning, pressurizing, infusing, and other processing steps. Thus, depending on the processing step, the container processing unit may implement various units, including an extraction unit (which may apply pressure and / or heat, e.g., heating or cooling, to perform the brewing process), a mixing unit (which mixes the beverage or food product in the container for consumption by the end user), a dispensing and dissolving unit (which extracts a portion of the precursor material from a reservoir, processes it by dissolving, and dispenses it into a container), and other similar units.

[0055] As used herein, the term "bulk materials processing unit" may refer to a configuration capable of processing bulk pre-precursor material into precursor material. The bulk materials processing unit may be configured to process the pre-precursor material by one or more of the following: heating, cooling, grinding, mixing, soaking, conditioning, and other processing steps. The bulk material may be fed to the bulk materials processing unit in a container from which it is extracted and processed.

[0056] As used herein, the term "preparation process" may refer to a process for preparing a beverage or food product from a precursor material, or a process for preparing a pre-precursor material from a precursor material. The preparation process may refer to a process performed by an electrical circuit to control a container processing unit to process the precursor or pre-precursor material.

[0057] As used herein, the terms "electrical circuitry" or "circuitry" or "control circuitry" may refer to one or more hardware and / or software components, examples of which may include one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or other programmable logic, electronic / electrical components (which may include combinations of transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc.), one or more processors (e.g., the circuitry of a processor), non-transitory memory (e.g., implemented by one or more memory devices) that may store one or more software or firmware programs, combinational logic circuits, and interconnections of the above. The electrical circuitry may be located entirely on the machine or distributed among one or more of the machine, external devices, and server systems.

[0058] As used herein, the terms "processor" or "processing resource" may refer to one or more units for processing, examples of which include an ASIC, a microcontroller, an FPGA, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a state machine, or other suitable components. A processor may be configured to execute a computer program, which may take the form of machine-readable instructions that may be stored, for example, in non-transitory memory and / or programmable logic. A processor may have various configurations corresponding to those described for circuits, for example, implemented in a machine or distributed as part of a system. As used herein, any machine-executable instructions or computer-readable medium may be configured to cause, for example, a machine or system as disclosed herein to perform the disclosed methods, and thus may be used synonymously or interchangeably with the term method.

[0059] As used herein, the terms "computer-readable medium(s)" or "data storage" may include any medium capable of storing a computer program and may take the form of one or more of any conventional non-transitory memory, such as random access memory (RAM), CDs, hard drives, solid-state drives, memory cards, DVDs, etc. The memory may have various configurations corresponding to the described configurations of the circuits.

[0060] As used herein, the terms "communications resource" or "communications interface" may refer to hardware and / or firmware for electronic information transmission. A communications resource / interface may be configured for wired communications ("wired communications resource / interface") or wireless communications ("wired communications resource / interface"). Wireless communications resources include hardware that transmits and receives signals wirelessly and may include, for example, various protocol implementations of the 802.11 standard described by the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) and Bluetooth™ sold by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Washington. Wired communications resources include Universal Serial Bus (USB), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), or other protocol implementations. A machine may include communications resources for wired or wireless communications with external devices and / or server systems.

[0061] As used herein, the terms "network" or "computer network" may refer to a system for transmitting electronic information between multiple apparatus / devices. A network may include, for example, one or more networks of any type, which may include a public land mobile network (PLMN), a telephone network (e.g., a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and / or a wireless network), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, a private network, the Internet, or an intranet.

[0062] As used herein, the term "code" may refer to a storage medium encoding formulation information. The code may be an optically readable code, such as a barcode. The code may be configured as a bit code (e.g., a binary sequence of 0s and 1s encoded by the presence or absence of elements). The code may be formed of multiple units, which may also be referred to as elements or markers. The elements may implement a finder portion and a data portion, and the finder portion encodes a predetermined reserved string of bits that are identifiable when processing the code from the data portion to enable location of the data portion encoding formulation information. The code may be configured as a one-dimensional code read by relative movement between the code and a code reader. The code reader may provide a bitstream signal or high and low signals for processing by formulation information extraction. The code may also be configured as a two-dimensional code and processed via a digital image obtained from the code reader's camera. It will be understood, therefore, that the code may exclude a mere surface finish or brand name on a container that is not configured in any way for information storage.

[0063] As used herein, the term "preparation information" may refer to one or more of parameters defined herein, recipes defined herein, identifiers, and other information related to the operation of the machine.

[0064] As used herein, the term "parameter" may refer to a variable used as an input (e.g., RPM) and / or attribute (e.g., fluid target temperature or volume) for controlling the beverage / food or beverage / food precursor controlled by the processing unit during the preparation process. Depending on the implementation of the processing unit, the parameter may vary. Examples include the volume of a particular component of the beverage and / or food, fluid temperature, fluid flow rate, processing unit operating parameters such as the RPM of a centrifugal-based brewing unit, the closing force of a hydraulic extraction unit, the order of dispensing of beverage and / or food ingredients, agitation (e.g., foaminess), or any of the above defined for one or more stages when the preparation process consists of a series of consecutive, discrete stages. Parameters that may be associated with a container processing unit comprising a bulk material processing unit may include one or more of the following: grinding parameters, including intensity; heating temperature. Parameters may be numerical or have values ​​that can be varied in predetermined increments between predetermined limits; for example, the temperature of water may vary between 60 and 90°C in 5°C increments.

[0065] As used herein, the term "recipe" or "control data set" may refer to a combination of parameters, e.g., as a complete or partial set of inputs, used by a processing unit to prepare a particular beverage and / or food product.

[0066] As used herein, the term "preparation process" may refer to a process for preparing a beverage or food product from a precursor material, or a process for preparing a pre-precursor material from a precursor material. The preparation process may refer to a process performed by an electrical circuit to control a processing unit to process the precursor or pre-precursor material.

[0067] As used herein, the term "code reading process" may refer to a process of reading a code to extract conditioning information (which may include identifiers and / or parameters). The process may include one or more of the following steps: obtaining a digital image of the code or code signal; extracting a sequence of bits from the code; identifying a finder portion of the code within the sequence; locating a data portion using the finder portion; and extracting conditioning information from the data portion.

[0068] [System Overview]

[0069] 1, system 2 includes machine 4, container 6, server system 8, and peripheral device 10. Server system 8 communicates with machine 4 via computer network 12. Peripheral device 10 communicates with machine 4 via computer network 12.

[0070] In alternative embodiments not shown, the peripheral devices and / or server system are omitted.

[0071] Although the computer network 12 is shown as being the same between the machine 4, the server system 8, and the peripheral device 10, other configurations are possible, including different computer networks for intercommunication between each device, i.e., the server system communicating with the machine through the peripheral device rather than directly. In a particular example, the peripheral device communicates with the machine over a wireless interface, for example using the Bluetooth™ protocol, and the server system communicates with the machine over a wireless interface, such as the IEEE 802.11 standard, and also over the Internet.

[0072] [Machine]

[0073] Referring to FIG. 2, the machine 4 comprises a processing unit 14 for processing the precursor material, an electrical circuit 16 and a code reading system 18 .

[0074] The electrical circuitry 16 controls the code reading system 18 to read a code (not shown in Figure 2) from the container 6 and determine brewing information therefrom. The electrical circuitry 16 uses the brewing information to control the processing unit 14 to carry out a brewing process in which precursor materials are processed into a beverage or food product or a precursor to a beverage or food product.

[0075] [First example of a processing unit]

[0076] 3, 4 and 5, in a first example of a processing unit 14, the unit comprises a vessel processing unit 20 and a fluid regulation system 22.

[0077] The container processing unit 20 is configured to process the container 6 to derive a beverage or food product from precursor materials (not shown) therein. A fluid regulation system 22 regulates the fluids supplied to the container processing unit 20. The electrical circuitry 16 uses the preparation information read from the container 6 to control the container processing unit 20 and the fluid regulation system 22 to carry out the preparation process.

[0078] [Fluid Regulation System]

[0079] Referring to FIG. 3 , the fluid conditioning system 22 includes a reservoir 24, a pump 26, a heat exchanger 28, and an outlet 30 for the conditioned fluid. The reservoir 24 typically contains enough fluid for multiple preparation processes. The pump 26 moves the fluid from the reservoir 24, through the heat exchanger 28, and to the outlet 30 (connected to the vessel processing unit 20). The pump 26 can be implemented as any suitable device for driving the fluid, including a reciprocating pump, a rotary pump, and other suitable configurations. The heat exchanger 28 is implemented to heat the fluid and can include an in-line thermoblock-type heater, a heating element for directly heating the fluid in the reservoir, and other suitable configurations.

[0080] In alternative embodiments not shown, the pump is omitted, for example, the fluid is supplied to the vessel processing unit by gravity or pressurized by a mains water supply; the reservoir is omitted, for example, the water is supplied by a mains water supply; the heat exchanger is configured to cool the fluid and may include, for example, a refrigeration cycle heat pump; the heat exchanger is omitted, for example, the mains water supply provides water at the desired temperature; and the fluid conditioning system includes a filtration / purification system, for example, a UV light system the degree of which can be controlled to be applied to the fluid, and a carbonation system that controls the degree to which the fluid is carbonated.

[0081] [Container processing unit]

[0082] The container processing unit 20 can be implemented in various configurations, as shown in the following Examples 1 to 6. Generally, in examples in which the machine 2 includes a guide portion into which a container is inserted and guided by gravity (e.g., under its own weight) into the container processing unit 20, the container processing unit 20 is configured with a container holding portion and a closure portion, which are movable in a depth direction perpendicular (including substantially perpendicular) to the direction of transport of the guide portion between a container receiving position and a container processing position.

[0083] 4 and 5, a first example of a container processing unit 20 is for processing containers configured as capsules 6 (a suitable example of a capsule is shown in FIG. 7, which will be described below), to prepare a beverage. The container processing unit 20 is configured as a brewing unit 32 for extracting a beverage from the capsule 6. The brewing unit 32 includes a capsule-holding portion 34 and a closure portion 36. The brewing unit 32 is movable to a capsule-receiving position (FIG. 4), in which the capsule-holding portion 34 and the closure portion 36 are arranged to receive the capsule 6 therebetween. The brewing unit 32 is movable to a capsule-extracting position (FIG. 5), in which the capsule-holding portion 34 and the closure portion 36 form a seal around the capsule 6, allowing the beverage to be extracted from the capsule 6. The brewing unit 32 may be actuator-driven or may be manually movable between said positions.

[0084] An outlet 30 of the fluid conditioning system 22 is arranged as an injection head 38 on the capsule holding part 34 for injecting the conditioned fluid, typically under high pressure, into the capsule 6 at the capsule extraction position. A beverage outlet 40 on the closure part 36 is configured to capture the extracted beverage and transport it from the brewing unit 32.

[0085] The brewing unit 32 is configured to prepare a beverage by applying a pressurized (e.g., at 10-20 bar) and heated (e.g., at 50-98°C) fluid to precursor material in the capsule 6. The pressure is increased for a predetermined amount of time until it exceeds the pressure of a ruptured portion of the capsule 6 (not shown in Figures 4 and 5), causing that portion to rupture and delivering the beverage to the beverage outlet 40.

[0086] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the injection head and beverage outlet are shown as being arranged on the capsule-holding part and the closure part, respectively, but may be arranged alternatively, including the injection head and beverage outlet being arranged on the closure part and the capsule-holding part, respectively, or both being arranged on the same part. Furthermore, the brewing unit may include both parts arranged as capsule-holding parts for capsules that are symmetrical about the flange, including, for example, Nespresso® Professional capsules. Examples of suitable brewing units are provided in EP 1 472 156 A1 and EP 1 784 344 A1, which provide hydraulically sealed brewing units.

[0087] In a second example of a container processing unit (not shown), a brewing unit similar to the first example is provided, but the brewing unit operates by centrifugation at lower pressure. An example of a suitable capsule is the Nespresso® Vertuo capsule. A suitable brewing system is disclosed in EP 2 594 171 A1. In such an example (or indeed any other example), a guide portion may not be necessary, and the container is loaded into the brewing unit manually.

[0088] In a third example (not shown), the capsule processing unit operates by dissolving a selected beverage precursor under high-pressure, high-temperature fluid. This configuration is similar to the brewing units of the first and second examples, but because the pressure is lower, a sealed brewing unit is not required. In particular, fluid can be injected into the capsule lid, and the bursting portion is located at the base of the capsule's reservoir. An example of a suitable capsule is the Nescafé® Dolce Gusto capsule. Examples of suitable brewing units are disclosed in EP 1 472 156 A1 and EP 1 784 344 A1.

[0089] In a fourth example (not shown) in which the container is configured as a packet, the container processing unit implements a brewing unit operable to receive the packet and to inject fluid from the fluid regulation system at its inlet. The injected fluid mixes with precursor materials in the packet to at least partially prepare a beverage, and the prepared beverage exits via the packet's outlet. Examples of such configurations are provided in WO2014125123A1 or WO2022023578A1.

[0090] In a fifth example (not shown), the container processing unit is arranged as a mixing unit for preparing beverages or food precursors stored in containers, which are receptacles for consumption by end users. The mixing unit comprises an agitator (e.g., a planetary mixer, a spiral mixer, and a vertical cut mixer) for mixing the beverage or food precursor in the receptacle, and a heat exchanger for heating / cooling the beverage or food precursor in the receptacle. The fluid supply system may also supply fluid to the receptacle. An example of such a code is provided in WO2014067987A1.

[0091] In a sixth example (not shown), the container processing unit is arranged as a dispensing and dissolving unit. The dispensing and dissolving unit is arranged to extract a serving of beverage or food precursor from a storage portion of the machine (which may include any multi-portioned container, including a packet or box). The dispensing and dissolving unit is configured to mix the extracted serving with conditioned fluid from the fluid conditioning system and dispense the beverage or food into a receptacle. An example of such an arrangement is provided in EP 14167344(A).

[0092] [Second example of a processing unit]

[0093] Referring to FIG. 6, in a second example of a processing unit 14, the unit includes a bulk material processing unit 42.

[0094] The rose material processing unit 42 is configured to receive the rose pre-precursor material from the container 6 (a preferred example is provided in FIG. 8 as described later), process the pre-precursor material, and derive the precursor material. The electric circuit 16 controls the rose material processing unit 42 to execute the preparation process using the preparation information read from the container 6.

[0095] <舍 The user manually resends the container 6 to the code reading system 18 of the machine 4 for reading the code (as described later). Next, the user opens the container 6 and distributes the pre-precursor material (not shown) disposed inside the container into the rose material processing unit 42. The rose material processing unit 42 processes the rose pre-precursor material into the precursor material.

[0096] In a specific example, the pre-precursor material is coffee beans, and the rose material processing unit 42 is configured to roast and / or grind the coffee beans to provide the precursor material.

[0097] In a modified embodiment not shown, the rose material processing unit is alternatively configured to include a dispensing system for opening the capsule and dispensing the pre-precursor from the capsule for subsequent processing (for example, it may include a cutting tool for cutting open the container and an extractor for extracting the pre-precursor material, such as a scoop, etc.); the pre-precursor material can be processed inside the container and dispensed from the container according to the previous example, or provided to the user inside the container.

[0098] [Code Reading System]

[0099] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the code reading system 18 is arranged to read the code 44 disposed on the lid of the container 6. The code reading system 18 is integrated with the extraction unit 32 of the first example of the container processing unit 20. The code 44 is read in a state where the extraction unit 32 is at the capsule extraction position (as shown in FIG. 4).

[0100] The code reading system 18 includes a code reader 46 having an image capture unit and a read head housing the image capture unit for capturing a digital image of the code 44. Examples of suitable image capture units include the Sonix SN9S102, Snap Sensor S2 imager, oversampled binary image sensors, and other similar systems.

[0101] The electrical circuitry 18 includes image processing circuitry (not shown) for identifying codes in the digital image and extracting formulation information. An example of an image processing circuit is a Texas Instruments TMS320C5517 processor running a code processing program.

[0102] In a variant embodiment not shown, the code reading system is separate from the container processing unit and is arranged in a channel into which a user places a container and which transports the container to the container processing unit, and the code reading system is configured to read a code on a receptacle arranged to receive a beverage from the beverage outlet of the dispensing and dissolving unit. In a further variant embodiment not shown, the code reading system is configured to read codes on different parts of the container, for example on a flange or a receiving part. In a further variant embodiment not shown, the code is a one-dimensional code that is read by relative movement between the code reader and the code to generate a code signal.

[0103] [Control electrical circuit]

[0104] 7, the electrical circuitry 16 is implemented as a control electrical circuitry 48 for controlling the processing unit 14 to carry out the preparation process. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, for illustrative purposes, a processing unit 14 comprising a vessel processing unit 20 and a fluid supply unit 22 is shown as a first example.

[0105] The electrical circuitry 16, 48 at least partially implements (e.g., in combination with hardware) an input unit 50 for receiving input from a user that determines whether the machine 4 is to perform a preparation process, a processor 52 for receiving input from the input unit 50 and providing a control output to the processing unit 14, and a feedback system 54 for providing feedback from the processing unit 54 during the preparation process that can be used to control the preparation process.

[0106] The input unit 50 is implemented as a user interface and may include one or more of buttons such as joystick buttons or push buttons, a joystick, LEDs, a graphic or character LDC, a graphical screen with touch-sensitive buttons and / or screen edge buttons, other similar devices, and a sensor for determining whether a container has been dispensed into the machine by a user.

[0107] The feedback system 54 a flow sensor for determining the flow rate / volume of fluid into the outlet 30 (shown in FIG. 3) of the fluid supply system 22, which can be used to meter the correct amount of fluid into the container 6 and thereby adjust the power to the pump 26; a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the fluid into the outlet 30 of the fluid supply unit 22, which can be used to ensure that the temperature of the fluid into the vessel 6 is correct and thereby adjust the power to the heat exchanger 28; a level sensor for determining whether the level of fluid in the reservoir 24 is sufficient for the preparation process; and a position sensor for determining the position of the brewing unit 32 (e.g. capsule extraction position or capsule receiving position); or other feedback control based actions can be implemented.

[0108] It will be understood that the electrical circuits 16, 44 may be suitably adapted to other examples of the processing unit 14, for example a second example of a container processing system in which a feedback system may be used to control the rotational speed of the capsule.

[0109] [container]

[0110] 8, a first example of a container 6 for use in a first example of a processing unit 14 includes a container 6 configured as a capsule 6. The capsule 6 includes a closure member 56, a body portion 62 with a reservoir portion 58, and a flange portion 60.

[0111] The reservoir portion 58 includes a cavity for storing a precursor material (not shown). The reservoir cavity extends in a depth direction 106 from the flange portion 60. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the reservoir portion 56 is perforated by the injection head 38 to deliver the conditioned fluid into the capsule.

[0112] The storage portion 58 is made of a paper-based material. The thickness of the storage portion 58 is 0.2 mm. The closure member 56 is made of a paper-based material. The thickness of the closure member 58 is 0.15 mm.

[0113] As used herein, "paper-based" may refer to a sheet formed at least in part from a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically treating cellulose fibers derived from one or more of wood, waste cloth, grass, or other plant material in water, draining the water through a fine mesh to leave the fibers evenly distributed on the surface, and then pressing and drying.

[0114] The closure member 56 may comprise a flexible membrane that closes and hermetically seals the storage portion 58. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the closure member 56 is perforated to allow the beverage / food to be expelled.

[0115] The flange portion 60 is integrally formed with the storage portion. The flange portion 60 is located at the junction of the storage portion 58 and the closure member 56 and includes a flat extension of the storage portion 58 that overlaps a portion of the closure member secured thereto to hermetically seal the precursor material. The flange portion 60 extends in a plane defined by the lateral direction 102 and the longitudinal direction 100. The closure member is therefore flat in that plane.

[0116] The capsule 6 is of circular cross-section so that it is rotationally symmetric about the axis 108. In this way, the user can present the capsule to the machine 2 in any orientation about the axis 108. The capsule 6 has a diameter of 53 mm, measured across the outer or inner circumference of the flange portion 60 in the plane of the flange portion 60. The capsule 6 can be constructed in different sizes characterized by different depths, for example 7 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 18 mm, and 21 mm. Each size capsule 6 is compatible with first and second examples of the code reading system 18, as described below.

[0117] In alternative embodiments not shown, the closure member may be arranged in a convex or concave configuration relative to the reservoir portion. For example, in a convex configuration, the center of the closure member may extend 1 mm ± 10% or 20% of the depth into the reservoir portion. The minimum concavity may be 0.2 mm. For example, in a concave configuration, the center of the closure member may extend 4 mm ± 10% or 20% of the depth away from the reservoir portion. The minimum concavity may be 0.5 mm.

[0118] In alternative embodiments not shown, the body portion comprises a flange portion that is not integrally formed with the storage portion but is connected to it; the body portion omits the flange portion, for example, the closure member is wrapped around the storage portion; the container may not have a rotationally symmetrical shape, for example, it may have a square cross section or other shape; the capsule may have alternative dimensions, including a diameter across the outer or inner circumference of the flange portion of 40 to 70 mm or 53 mm ± 10% or 20%, and a depth of any of the stated depths ± 10% or 20%; the thickness of the storage portion may be 0.1 to 0.4 mm, or 0.2 ± 20% or 30%; the thickness of the closure member may be 0.05 to 0.3 mm, or 0.15 ± 20% or 30%; the storage portion and / or closure member may be made of or comprise another material, including, for example, a plastic-based or aluminum-based material.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 9, a second example of a container 6 for use in a second example of a processing unit 14 comprises a container 6 configured as a packet and including an arrangement of sheets of material 62 joined at peripheral seams 64 that define an interior volume for storage of precursor material (not shown); and an opening 66 that a user opens to dispense the precursor material into the bulk material processing unit 42.

[0120] [Code Placement]

[0121] Referring to FIG. 8, the code 44 may be located on the exterior surface of the container 6 in any suitable location such that it can be read by the code reading system 18 .

[0122] In a first example, the code 44 is located in a central region of the closure member 56. Therefore, if a code reader is aligned with the center of the container, the code can be read. In a second example, the code is replicated across the entire closure member and can be read from any exterior position on the closure member 56. In such a configuration, the closure member does not require any particular alignment with the storage portion, thereby simplifying the process of cutting and assembling the container 6.

[0123] In an alternative embodiment not shown, a cord may be located on the flange portion 60 (including both sides) and on the storage portion 58. A cord may also be located on the closure member, but not in the central region.

[0124] In a second example shown in FIG. 9, the cords 44 are positioned at various locations on the sheet material 62, including distal to the seam 64.

[0125] [Preparation process]

[0126] Referring to Figure 10, a process for preparing beverages / food products from precursor materials is shown. Block 70: The user supplies the container 6 to the machine 4. Block 72: The electrical circuit 16 (e.g., its input unit 50) receives a user instruction to prepare a beverage / food from precursors, and the electrical circuit 16 (e.g., processor 52) starts the process. Block 74: The electrical circuit 16 controls the processing unit 14 to perform processing on the container (e.g., in the first example of the container processing unit 20, the extraction unit 32 is moved from the capsule receiving position (Figure 4) to the capsule extraction position (Figure 5)). Block 76: The electrical circuit 16 controls the code reading system 18 to provide a digital image of the code 6 on the container. Block 78: The code processing circuit of the electronic circuit 16 processes the digital image to extract the preparation information. Block 80: The electrical circuitry 16 performs a preparation process by controlling the processing unit 14 based on the preparation information. In the first example of the processing unit, this preparation process includes controlling the fluid conditioning system 22 to supply fluid to the vessel processing unit 20 at a temperature, pressure, and duration specified in the preparation information.

[0127] The electrical circuit 16 then controls the container processing unit 20 to move from the capsule extraction position through the capsule ejection position to eject the container 6 and back to the capsule receiving position.

[0128] In alternative embodiments not shown, the above blocks may be executed in a different order, for example, block 72 before block 70, or block 76 before block 74; some blocks may be omitted, for example, block 70 may be omitted if the machine stores a magazine of capsules.

[0129] Blocks 76 and 78 may be referred to as code reading and processing processes. Block 80 may be referred to as a preparation process. Electrical circuitry 16 includes instructions, for example as program code, for the preparation process(es). In one embodiment, processor 52 executes instructions stored in memory (not shown).

[0130] As part of the preparation process, the electrical circuitry 16 may obtain additional preparation information from the server system 8 and / or peripheral devices 10 via the computer network 12 using the machine's communications interface (not shown).

[0131] [Code Summary]

[0132] 11, the code 44 is formed from a plurality of circular units 80 arranged on a border 82. The units 80 are dark in color (e.g., including one of black, dark blue, purple, and dark green) and the border 82 is relatively light in color (e.g., including one of white, light blue, yellow, and light green) so that there is sufficient contrast to distinguish them for the image capture unit 46. The units 80 of the code may be configured to be read in the infrared and / or visible wavelength ranges.

[0133] Unit 80 is circular in shape. As used herein, the term "shape" with respect to a unit may refer to the exact shape or an approximation of the actual shape, which may result from variations in printing or other manufacturing accuracy.

[0134] In alternative embodiments not shown, the units are light in color and the border is dark in color, and in alternative embodiments not shown, the units have other shapes, including one or a combination of triangles, polygons, particularly quadrilaterals, such as squares or parallelograms; or other suitable shapes.

[0135] The units 80 typically have a unit length of 50 to 200 μm. As used herein, the term "unit length" with respect to the units 80 may refer to a suitably defined distance of the units 80, such as the diameter of a circular shape; the side length of a square; the distance between opposite or adjacent vertices of a polygon; or the hypotenuse of a triangle. The units 80 are positioned with an accuracy of about 1 μm.

[0136] The unit 80 is formed by printing, for example by an ink printer. As an example of printing, the ink may be a conventional printer ink and the substrate may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET), lacquered aluminum (as found in Nespresso Classic capsules), or other suitable substrate.

[0137] In alternative embodiments not shown, the units are alternatively formed, including by embossing, engraving, or other suitable means; and the units are alternatively sized, for example, with a unit length of 80 to 120 μm.

[0138] With further reference to FIG. 11, the unit 80 is organized into a reference portion R for locating and orienting the code 44; and a data portion D for storing preparation information.

[0139] The unit 80 of the code 44 positioned as the reference portion R includes three reference units 84. These reference units 84 have a unique spatial arrangement within the code 44 so that the reference portion R can be identified in the digital image by the electrical circuit 16 (e.g., using a relationship stored in the circuit's memory). The unique spatial arrangement includes the reference units 84 positioned at three of the vertices of an imaginary rectangle (not shown) centered on the origin O at the center of the rectangle, with specific distances between the reference units 84.

[0140] In alternative embodiments not shown, the reference portion may be alternatively implemented, including having different arrangements of the reference units, including other shapes such as circular or rectangular, having a different number of reference units, including four or five, and the reference units may have a unique shape that is distinguishable from the shapes of the other units forming the code.

[0141] This arrangement of reference units 84 allows the definition of a single reference line r at a particular vector relative to that unit 84. The reference line r is an imaginary line and is determined by the electrical circuit 16 (e.g., using a relationship stored in the circuit's memory).

[0142] In a particular example, the reference units 84 define a first imaginary line (not shown) and a second imaginary line (not shown) using the right-hand rule, where the thumb represents the first imaginary line intersecting the centers of the two reference units 84, the index finger represents the second imaginary line intersecting the centers of the two reference units, one of which is common to the first imaginary line, and the middle finger points toward the plane of the page of the code 44. A reference line r extends from the origin O and is parallel to the first imaginary line and perpendicular to the second imaginary line.

[0143] In alternative embodiments not shown, the reference line may be alternatively defined and may, for example, include an actual line drawn on the code; or may have an alternative geometric arrangement relative to the reference unit.

[0144] A unit 80 of the code 44 arranged as a data portion D includes a plurality of data units 86. The data units 86 are arranged on a coding line E that intersects with a reference line r. The coding line E is an imaginary line determined by the electrical circuit 16 (e.g., the coding line has a predetermined radius stored in the circuit's memory). The center of the circle of the coding line E is arranged at the origin O of the reference portion R. Thus, the reference line r intersects with the coding line E with a tangent perpendicular to the reference line r. There are two coding lines E1, E2, each of which includes a plurality of data units 86.

[0145] In alternative embodiments not shown, other numbers of coding lines are implemented, including three, four, or five; the coding lines may have shapes other than circular, including rectangular or triangular; and the coding lines include actual lines drawn on the code.

[0146] The coding line E includes one or more individual data portions, each including a start position 88 and one data unit 86, which is located a distance d along the coding line E from the start position 88 as a variable encoding a parameter of the preparation information. The start position 88 may be virtually defined and determined by the electrical circuit 16 (e.g., the start position may be stored in the circuit's memory). The individual data portions may also include an end position (not shown), which defines the maximum allowable distance d along the coding line E of the data unit 80 from the start position 88. Both the start position and the end position are virtually formed.

[0147] In the first encoding line E1, the data portion includes two individual data portions, and in the first individual data portion, the distance d can be any continuous distance from the starting position 88 on the reference line r to the first data unit 86 clockwise from the reference line r; in the second individual data portion, the distance d can be any continuous distance from the starting position 88 of the data unit 86 of the first individual data portion to the midpoint m between two subsequent data units 86 in the clockwise direction.

[0148] In the second encoding line E2, the data portion comprises one individual data portion, and the distance d can be any one of a number of separate distances, which are illustrated as discrete positions 90 from a starting position 88 on the reference line r, each position associated with a value of a parameter. In this example, there are ten discrete positions 90.

[0149] The incremental distance may be defined as the distance between the start position 88 and the end position divided by the total number of positions in the data portion D that the data unit 86 may occupy (10 in the case of E2).

[0150] In alternative embodiments not shown, the start position can be located anywhere on the coding line, including a position away from the reference line; multiple start positions may exist on the coding line, each with an associated data unit; the start positions may be formed as units as part of the code rather than being virtually defined; the coding line may include a combination of parameters coded by continuous distance and multiple discrete positions; one or more data units on the coding line may define a parameter that can be determined as an average of multiple positions; and the data portion may include any suitable number of individual data portions.

[0151] The code 44 includes a perimeter 92 within which multiple units 80 are disposed. The perimeter 92 is rectangular and has dimensions of 600-1600 μm, or approximately 1100 μm. The code 44 may be repeated such that multiple repetitions of the code 44 are disposed within a single digital image so that one or more of the best captured code repetitions can be selected for processing.

[0152] In alternative embodiments not shown, the perimeter may be alternative shapes, including circular; the perimeter may have alternative sizes, including larger or smaller than the range of this example. In alternative embodiments not shown, the data portion alternatively encodes the value of the parameter, including alphanumeric symbols or other configurations.

[0153] Referring to FIG. 12 with reference to the code of FIG. 11, the code processing process performed by the electrical circuit 16 (or the code processing circuit of the electrical circuit) for extraction of formulation information includes the following.

[0154] Step 1: Locate the code unit

[0155] Block 100: Acquire a digital image of the code 44 via the code reading system 118.

[0156] Block 102: Assign pixels to dark regions in the digital image that represent units 80.

[0157] Block 104: If some pixels are close to each other, it is determined that a unit 80 exists.

[0158] Block 106: For each determined unit, the center of a pixel group is determined by a rule such as feature extraction, and the coordinates of the center of the unit are determined.

[0159] In alternative embodiments not shown, alternative processing techniques for determining units and unit coordinates may be implemented, including other techniques for locating the center of a unit or identifying the presence of a unit, for example, some degree of magnification may be implemented so that a single pixel is determined as a unit and the center of the unit is determined as the center of the pixel.

[0160] Step 2: Identifying the location of the reference part of the code and the reading angle

[0161] Referring to FIG. 13 with reference to the code of FIG. 11, the processing of code 44 includes the following:

[0162] Block 108: Locate the reference portion R by retrieving the coordinates of the multiple units 80 of the code 44 to identify the unique separation pattern and geometry of the reference unit 84. This may be performed by geometric rules, including the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometry or other suitable rules. The separation pattern and geometry are stored on the electrical circuitry 16 and can be accessed during retrieval.

[0163] Block 110: For the located reference portion R, define the location of the origin O and the reference line r using the stored relationship. The location of the origin and the reference line can be stored on the electrical circuit 16 and mapped onto the coordinates of the located reference portion.

[0164] Block 112: For each unit (other than the units in the reference portion), determine which coding line E the unit belongs to based on its distance from the origin O. The electrical circuit 16 can store the radius range of each coding line E and can use geometric rules to determine the distance of each unit from the origin O and which radius range it falls within.

[0165] Block 114: For each unit (other than the unit of the reference portion), determine angles α1, α2 relative to the reference line r. Note that angles represent circumferential distances and may be used interchangeably. The angles can be calculated via the known geometric relationship between the coordinates of the reference line r and an imaginary line extending from the origin O through the relevant unit.

[0166] Step 3: Determine the parameter values ​​of the preparation information

[0167] Referring to FIG. 13 with reference to the code of FIG. 11, the processing of code 44 includes the following:

[0168] Block 116: A coding distance d is determined for each individual data portion. This is accomplished by implementing a set of rules for determining the coding distance d, which are stored by the electrical circuitry 16. This may include one or more of the number of individual data portions on each coding line and the starting position 88 of the individual data portions; whether a single unit or multiple units represent the data unit 86; and other suitable relationships.

[0169] For example, referring to FIG. 9, the rules for determining the coding distance d of the coding line E1 include: there are two individual data portions; the starting position 88 of the first individual data portion is at the intersection of the reference line r and the coding line E1; the starting position 88 of the second individual data portion is at a data unit 86 of the first individual data portion; the data unit 86 of the first individual data portion is represented as a single unit of the code 44; and the data unit 86 of the second individual data portion is represented as two units of the code 44.

[0170] For example, referring to FIG. 11, the rules for determining the coding distance d for coding line E2 include that there is a single individual data portion, the starting position 88 is at the intersection of reference line r and coding line E2, and the data unit 86 of the first individual data portion is represented as a single unit of code 44.

[0171] Block 118: The coding distance d of each data portion is converted into a value of a parameter. This is achieved by implementing a set of rules for converting distances into values, stored by the electrical circuit 16.

[0172] For example, in the coding line E1, the first individual data portion may encode the amount of water in the brewing process, and the distance d may be any continuous value that is linearly related to the amount of water; the second individual data portion may encode the time of the brewing process, and the encoded distance d may be any continuous value that is exponentially related to the time.

[0173] For example, in coding line E2, a single individual data portion encodes the water temperature of the brewing process, the coding distance d is a discrete value that varies incrementally by 5°C for each discrete location 90, and the rule may specify which 5 degree increment is closest to the determined coding distance d.

[0174] In alternative embodiments not shown, other rules can be implemented, including other mathematical functions relating the coding distance to the value of the parameter, whether the coding distance is the average of the distances of multiple individual data portions, and other suitable relationships.

[0175] [Duplicate in place]

[0176] Referring to FIG. 14, a code 44 includes the features (and related variations) described in the embodiments in connection with FIGS.

[0177] The data portion D includes a first predetermined location 94 and a second predetermined location 96. The first and second predetermined locations 94, 96 partially overlap each other but do not completely overlap each other. In particular, they are both located on the encoding line E2, which passes through their centers but is offset from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0178] The first and second predetermined positions 94, 96 are: 1) the absence of data units at both locations 94, 96; 2) the presence of a data unit 86 at a first location 94 and the absence of a data unit at a second location 96; 3) the presence of a data unit 86 at the second location 96 and the absence of a data unit at the first location 94; The three conditions are coded as:

[0179] In the illustrated example, only condition 1) is shown.

[0180] The predetermined locations 94, 96 are located at known angular distances from the reference line r. As discussed in the previous embodiment, the encoding line E2 is positioned at a known radius from the origin O defined by the reference portion R. Thus, the predetermined locations 94, 96 can be read by locating their centers relative to the reference line r and the origin O, and it can be determined whether they contain a data unit 86 or whether a data unit is absent according to one of conditions 1)-3) above.

[0181] In one example, the locations of the units 86 can be determined by their centers (as described above), and if the center of the unit coincides with (including is very close to) the center of the predetermined location 94, 96, the data unit is determined to be located at the associated predetermined location 94, 96.

[0182] It will be appreciated that in such a read mode, if both the first and second predetermined locations 94, 96 contain partially overlapping data units, the object formed by the two partially overlapping units will have a position that is not assigned to either of the predetermined locations 94, 96; instead, the center of the object will be between the two predetermined locations 94, 96, which therefore equates to condition 1). Alternatively, the algorithm for locating the center of the data units may be configured to return an error for such regularly shaped objects, and condition 1) may be determined. If only three conditions need to be coded, it does not matter that the fourth condition is not coded.

[0183] In an alternative embodiment, a further condition may be determined by an alternative algorithm that can identify both units as being present as a fourth condition, for example by finding the two centers of the two data units from the aforementioned object. In such an example, the overlapping predetermined locations still provide the advantage of a more compact encoding.

[0184] The data units 86 at the given locations 94, 96 and the given locations 94, 96 themselves are of equal size (eg, such that the units occupy / extend completely to the boundaries of the given locations).

[0185] In alternative embodiments, the data units and the predetermined locations may be of different sizes, for example the data units are smaller than the predetermined locations. They may also be of a shape other than circular, for example square.

[0186] The first and second predetermined locations 94, 96 overlap each other by less than half the area of ​​the data unit 86 (or the predetermined locations, since they are the same size). The offset between the centers of the predetermined locations is less than the diameter of the predetermined location but greater than the radius of the predetermined location. Such a restriction may allow the data units at the first or second predetermined locations to be conveniently identified. The first and second predetermined locations 94, 96 have a minimum overlap of more than 5%, 10%, or 20% of the area of ​​the predetermined locations.

[0187] In alternative embodiments, other degrees of overlap are implemented.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 14, the same coding line E2 or a different coding line E1 may encode other parameters of the preparation information, examples of which were previously described in connection with the embodiment of FIG.

[0189] In an embodiment, the condition encoded by the overlapping predetermined locations 94, 96 is a condition associated with a parameter encoded by the coded distance d to the separate data units. For example, the condition may be one of three operating magnitudes including the temperature of a heat exchanger or the flow rate of a pump, and the data coded by the coded distance d may be the operating time of that component. The condition may also be one of three flow settings defining the degree of flow (from the fluid regulation system) either through or bypassing the vessel, and the data coded by the coded distance d may be the time to operate that flow setting. The degree of flow may be controlled by a motorized valve positioned to change the flow path to an outlet through or around the vessel processing unit.

[0190] Although the predetermined locations 94, 96 are shown on the second coding line E2, it will be understood that they may be located on any coding line, and that there may be any number of coding lines, for example, two, three, or four.

[0191] Although the code is shown herein as being disposed on the container, it will be understood that the code may be integrally formed on the container or may be formed on a separate substrate (not shown) that can be attached to the container. Alternatively, the substrate may be arranged as a bracket or clip for attachment to a machine, positioned between the code reader and the container so that the code thereon is read instead of the code on the container, or as other component, including, for example, a handheld component configured for a user to present to a code reader on a machine, and that may be suitably configured for manual code reading.

[0192] It will be understood that any of the disclosed methods (or corresponding devices, programs, data carriers, etc.) may be performed by either a host or a client, depending on the particular implementation (i.e., the disclosed methods / devices are forms of communication(s) and, as such, can be performed from either "perspective," i.e., relative to one another). Furthermore, it will be understood that the terms "receiving" and "transmitting" encompass "input" and "output" and are not limited to the RF context of transmitting and receiving radio waves. Thus, for example, a chip, other device, or component implementing an embodiment may generate data for output to another chip, device, or component, or may have as input data from another chip, device, or component, and such output or input may be referred to as gerunds, i.e., "sending" and "receiving," as well as "sending" and "receiving," which include "sending" and "receiving" within the RF context.

[0193] As used herein, any expression used in the style "at least one of A, B, or C," as well as the expression "at least one of A, B, and C," uses the disjunctive "or" and the disjunctive "and," so that these expressions include any or all combinations of A, B, C and several permutations, i.e., A only, B only, C only, A and B in any order, A and C in any order, B and C in any order, A, B, C in any order. There may be more or fewer than three features used in such expressions.

[0194] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those recited in the claim. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms "a" or "an" are defined as one or more. Also, the use of introductory phrases such as "at least one" and "one or more" in a claim should not be construed as meaning that the introduction of another claim element with the indefinite article "a" or "an" limits a particular claim containing such introduced claim element to inventions containing only one such element, even if the same claim also contains the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "an." The same applies to the use of definite articles. Unless otherwise specified, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements they describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate a chronological or other priority of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0195] Unless expressly stated as incompatible or unless the physical or other properties of the embodiments, examples, or claims preclude such combination, the features of the foregoing embodiments, examples, and appended claims may be combined together in any suitable configuration, particularly those that result in beneficial effects. This is not limited to any particular benefit alone, but may instead result from an "after-the-fact" benefit. This means that the combination of features is not limited to the described form, particularly the dependency format (e.g., numbering) of the example(s), embodiment(s), or claim(s). Furthermore, this also applies to phrases such as "in one embodiment," "according to one embodiment," and the like, which are merely literal styles and should not be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment relative to all other instances of the same or similar language. This means that a reference to "an," "one," or "some" embodiment(s) may refer to one or more and / or all of the disclosed embodiments, or combination(s) thereof. Likewise, references to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment.

[0196] As used herein, any machine-executable instructions or computer-readable medium can perform the disclosed methods and thus can be used synonymously or interchangeably with the term method.

[0197] The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from experience with various implementations of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0198] 2. System 4 machines 14 Processing Unit 20 Container processing unit (first example) 32 Extraction Unit 34 Capsule holding part 36 Closed part 38 Injection Head 40 Beverage outlet 22 Fluid Regulation System 24 reservoir 26 Pump 28 Heat exchanger 30 exit 42 Bulk material handling unit (second example) 16 Electrical Circuits 48 Control Electrical Circuit 50 input units 52 processors 54 Feedback System 18 Code Reading System 46 Image Acquisition Unit 6 containers Capsules - Example 1 56 Lid part 44 Code 80 units R reference part 84 reference units r Reference Line O Origin D Data section 86 data units E coded line d distance 88 Starting position 90 discrete positions 94 First designated position 96 Second designated position 82 Border 92 perimeter 58 Storage section 60 flange part Packet - Example 2 62 Sheet material 64 Seams 68 Opening 8 Server Systems 10 Peripheral Devices 12 Computer Networks

Claims

1. 1. A container for containing precursor materials for use in a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food product or a precursor to said beverage and / or said food product, said container comprising machine readable code storing preparation information for use in a preparation process carried out by said machine, said code comprising: a reference portion (R) for locating said code and a data portion (D) for storing said preparation information, The data portion includes a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location that partially overlap, the first predetermined location and the second predetermined location being: the absence of data units at both locations; the presence of a data unit at the first predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the second predetermined location; the presence of a data unit at the second predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the first predetermined location; A container, wherein the encoded conditions are arranged compactly by encoding one of the three conditions as:

2. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the data units and predetermined locations are of equal size.

3. 3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the partially overlapping first and second predetermined locations overlap by less than half of the area of ​​the predetermined locations.

4. 4. The container of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partially overlapping first and second predetermined locations overlap by more than 5 or 10% of the area of ​​the predetermined locations.

5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the partially overlapping first and second predetermined positions are located on a coding line.

6. the data portion comprises at least one data unit arranged at a coding distance (d) from a starting position along a virtual coding line (E) as a variable for at least partially coding a value of a parameter of the preparation information, the coding line being circular and the distance (d) being an angular distance; 6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the condition encoded by the predetermined overlapping positions is a condition associated with a parameter encoded by the encoded distance.

7. 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the data units are configured to be located by centers of a plurality of the data units such that instances of both the first and second predetermined locations that include overlapping data units are prevented from encoding a fourth condition because the center of an object that includes two of the overlapping data units is not at the center of one of the predetermined locations.

8. 1. A substrate for attachment to a container for containing precursor material for use in a machine for preparing a beverage and / or food product or a precursor to said beverage and / or food product, or for attachment to said machine, said substrate comprising a cord, said cord comprising: a reference portion (R) for locating said code and a data portion (D) for storing said preparation information, The data portion includes a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location that partially overlap, and the first predetermined location and the second predetermined location that partially overlap are: the absence of data units at both locations; the presence of a data unit at the first predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the second predetermined location; the presence of a data unit at the second predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the first predetermined location; A substrate, wherein the encoded conditions are arranged compactly by encoding one of the three conditions as:

9. 1. A machine for preparing beverages and / or foods or precursors of said beverages and / or said foods, comprising: a code reading system for reading the code on the container; a processing unit for processing the precursor material of said vessel; an electrical circuit for controlling the processing unit based on preparation information read from the code; The electrical circuit Locating a reference portion (R) of the code; reading a data portion (D) of the code positioned relative to the located reference portion; reading first and second predetermined locations of the data portion that overlap, the first and second predetermined locations satisfying one of three conditions: the absence of data units at both locations; the presence of a data unit at the first predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the second predetermined location; encoding the presence of a data unit at the second predetermined position and the absence of a data unit at the first predetermined position; The machine that is configured to run

10. A system comprising a container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a machine according to claim 9.

11. Use of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for a machine according to claim 9 for preparing a beverage and / or food or a precursor of said beverage and / or said food.

12. 1. A method for encoding formulation information in a code, comprising: aligning a data portion of the code relative to a reference portion of the code; locating a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location of the data portion that overlap each other; the absence of data units at both locations; the presence of a data unit at the first predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the second predetermined location; the presence of a data unit at the second predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the first predetermined location; encoding one of the three conditions as A method comprising:

13. 1. A method of reading preparation information from a code for use in a preparation process in which a machine is controlled based on said preparation information to prepare a beverage and / or food product or a precursor to said beverage and / or food product, said method comprising the steps of: Locating a reference portion (R) of the code; reading a data portion (D) of said code positioned relative to the located reference portion; reading first and second predetermined locations of the data portion that overlap, the first and second predetermined locations comprising: the absence of data units at both locations; the presence of a data unit at the first predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the second predetermined location; the presence of a data unit at the second predetermined location and the absence of a data unit at the first predetermined location; and encode the three conditions as A method comprising:

14. An electrical circuit for carrying out the method of claim 13.

15. A computer readable medium containing program code for performing the method of claim 13.

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