Apparatus and method of controlling beverage dispensing machines

A method of controlling a beverage dispensing machine provided with at least one container containing an ingredient for preparing said beverage, characterized in comprising the following steps:

• detecting at least a value of a level of said ingredient in said container;
• making a comparison of the detected value with a reference value stored in a machine control unit;
• and changing one or more operative parameters of said beverage dispensing machine, when necessary, on the basis of said comparison selecting said at least one or more operative is parameters from the group consisting of an operating time of the machine to draw the ingredient from the container, an amount of ingredient drawn from the container, and an operating time or condition of other machine units.

An apparatus for controlling a beverage dispensing machine provided with at least one container containing an ingredient for preparing said beverage, comprising means for detecting at least a value of a level of said ingredient in said container;

• a machine control unit having means for storing at least one reference value for said level value, means for making a comparison of the detected value with said stored reference values and means of changing one or more operative parameters of said beverage dispensing machine, when necessary, on the basis of said comparison, said means for detecting the value of said level comprises means for detecting distance between at least one sensing means positioned above said ingredient and at least one point of an upper surface of said ingredient.

An apparatus for controlling a beverage dispensing machine provided with at least one container containing an ingredient for preparing said beverage, comprising means for detecting at least a value of a level of said ingredient in said container;

• a machine control unit having means for storing at least one reference value for said level value, means for making a comparison of the detected value with said stored reference values and means of changing one or more operative parameters of said beverage dispensing machine, when necessary, on the basis of said comparison, said at least one or more operative is parameters being selected from the group consisting of an operating time of the machine to draw the ingredient from the container, an amount of ingredient drawn from the container, and an operating time or condition of other machine units.