System for automated detection in beverage dispensing machines
AssigneeKoninklijke Douwe Egberts B. V.
InventorLeonardus Cornelis van der Velden
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Abstract
Means are provided for the support of the automated process of supplying beverages. More particularly, the detection of the presence and the contents of exchangeable supply packs in beverage dispensing machines is automated. A pack-in-place detection is provided by emitting light and measuring the presence of the emitted light on one light detector, the system determines the absence or the correct/incorrect placement of the supply pack. A product availability detection is provided by detecting the intensity of light coming through a transparent element in the supply pack by another light detector, the system identifies the degree of product presence in the supply pack.
Claims25
A system comprising a beverage dispensing machine and at least one exchangeable supply pack comprising a doser and a product to be supplied in the operation of the system, said system comprising one or more detection means for at least automatically detection of the presence of the exchangeable supply pack and of the product in the exchangeable supply pack said means comprising:
- a first interface for incorporation in a machine;
- a second interface on the doser of the exchangeable supply pack, operatively connectable to the first interface;
- a transmitter on the first interface for emitting radiation;
- a first detector on the first interface for detecting presence of product in the exchangeable supply pack;
- a second detector on the first interface for detecting presence of the exchangeable supply pack;
- and
- wherein the second interface is receivable between the transmitter and both the first and second detectors, to interfere with radiation emitted by the transmitter, the second interface comprising
- a first transparent element which in use is positioned between the transmitter and the first detector;
- and
- a second opaque element which in use is positioned between the transmitter and the second detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.