Method for operating a hot drinks machine and hot drinks machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot drinks machines lack effective methods to detect malfunctions during beverage dispensing, particularly empty milk containers, leading to excessive steam buildup, potential damage to electronics, and risks of burns from uncontrolled hot steam.
Innovation Solution
A method and control device using a camera at the dispensing area to monitor the process, detecting steam conditions or deviations in beverage streams, and issuing shutdown or cleaning signals to prevent malfunctions, including empty milk containers and improper brewing parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the milk foam generating device continues operation after milk is depleted, then the brewing process can be completed, but excessive steam buildup occurs causing electronic damage and burn risks
Solution Approach 1:
The camera device performs preliminary detection of the milk foam dispensing process to identify when milk is depleted, triggering a shutdown signal before excessive steam buildup can occur. This preventive action stops the brewing process at the optimal moment, avoiding harmful steam accumulation while completing the brewing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the camera continuously monitors the dispensing area, detects steam density changes indicating milk depletion, and sends real-time shutdown signals to the control device. This closed-loop control prevents harmful steam buildup by responding to actual process conditions.
2Reliability
If a camera device is installed to monitor the dispensing area, then malfunction detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensors or manual monitoring systems with an optical camera-based detection system. The camera captures images of the dispensing area, and image processing algorithms automatically detect milk depletion and malfunctions, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera creates an optical copy (image) of the dispensing area, allowing remote monitoring and analysis of the brewing process. This virtual representation enables malfunction detection without physical contact with hot components, maintaining system simplicity while enhancing safety and reliability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the camera monitors through dense steam, then continuous monitoring is maintained, but image recognition accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial monitoring by detecting specific key features (reference points) rather than requiring complete visibility of the entire dispensing area. When steam density partially obscures the view, the camera can still detect critical changes in steam patterns and reference point positions, maintaining monitoring continuity with acceptable precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing system dynamically adjusts detection parameters based on steam density conditions. When steam obscures the view, the system modifies sensitivity thresholds and detection algorithms to compensate for reduced visibility, maintaining reference point detection accuracy across varying steam conditions throughout the brewing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents excessive steam buildup, protects against electronic damage, and ensures user safety by automatically pausing the milk frothing process and providing warnings, while also enabling quick detection and correction of brewing issues.
Implementation Method 1
a uniform cloud of steam is created, through which a camera in the camera system can still see. Objects behind it, such as a cup, are still blurred. As soon as the milk is empty, the cloud of steam becomes significantly more uneven and, above all, opaque.
Implementation Method 2
A hose can lead from one of the hot drinks machine's outlets, through which the milk can be sucked in, for example using the Venturi principle. In the outlet, the milk can be mixed with hot steam from the machine.
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a hot beverage vending machine (100) with a milk frothing device (105) for producing milk foam. The method comprises a step of detecting a process at a dispensing area (130) of the hot beverage vending machine (100) by means of a camera device (330) which is arranged and configured at the dispensing area (130) to capture images of the dispensing area (130). Furthermore, the method (200) comprises a step of outputting a camera signal (335) to a control device (340), wherein the camera signal (335) represents a process carried out at the dispensing area (130).Finally, the method includes a step of providing a shutdown signal (345) to shut down the milk frothing device (105) in response to the camera signal (335) when the camera signal (335) represents a steam state in which a reference point (125) of the output area (130) is no longer detectable and/or recognizable by the camera device (330).