DE102015109249A1 - Height-adjustable drink outlet of a drinks vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the height of a beverage outlet of a beverage vending machine, in particular a coffee machine, wherein the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after triggering a beverage dispensing in a flow direction of a beverage until an intermediate position is reached, wherein the beverage outlet after reaching the intermediate position by a defined value is returned to the flow direction in an end position. The present invention also relates to a beverage vending machine for carrying out the method.

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a method for height adjustment of a beverage outlet of a beverage vending machine, in particular a coffee machine, in which the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after triggering a beverage dispensing in a flow direction of a beverage until an intermediate position is reached. The present invention also relates to a beverage vending machine for carrying out the method.

In order to avoid beverage splashes and temperature losses when filling a vessel, it is known to adjust the beverage outlet of beverage machines before filling in height, so that the beverage outlet is located near the top of the vessel. Due to the large number of different vessels with different vessel edge height, it is necessary to detect the vessel edge height.

The publication DE 10 2010 060 731 A1 For this purpose, a vessel edge sensor in the form of a rocker switch is provided on an underside of the beverage outlet. As soon as the rocker switch is actuated by contact with the edge of the vessel, the height adjustment is stopped immediately and the filling process is then started.

However, it has been shown that some vessels can be arranged so below the beverage outlet that their vessel edge is not arranged below the rocker switch when Höhenverstellen, and the rocker is therefore not operated, although the beverage outlet has already reached the edge of the vessel. The beverage outlet operating motor is then controlled further. The beverage outlet is, however, possibly already on the edge of the vessel. As a result, the vessel is jammed between the drip grid, on which it is parked, and the beverage outlet. It can then not be removed from the filling area of the beverage dispenser without manual adjustment of the beverage outlet.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is to inexpensively improve such a beverage vending machine, in particular such a fully automatic coffee machine, in such a way that the vessels directly reach the filling area of the vending machine, ie. H. can be removed without a manual adjustment of the beverage outlet, even if the vessel edge height was not detected correctly with a vessel edge sensor.

The object is achieved with a method having the features of independent claim 1 and a beverage vending machine with the features of independent claim 7. Advantageous embodiments are the dependent claims removed.

For a method for height adjustment of a beverage outlet of a beverage dispenser, in particular a coffee machine is created. The vending machine has a beverage spout, which is provided for dispensing the beverage. In addition, it has a vessel edge sensor which is provided for detecting the vessel edge height of a container parked in a filling area of the beverage dispenser.

The method provides that the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after triggering a beverage dispensing in a flow direction of the beverage until it has reached an intermediate position. It is characterized by the fact that the beverage outlet is returned after reaching the intermediate position by a defined value against the flow direction in an end position.

By returning the beverage outlet to the defined value against the flow direction can be ensured even at not properly detected height of the edge of the vessel at least for the vast majority of vessels used for drinks vending machines that the beverage outlet is located near the edge of the vessel during filling, and not on rests on the edge of the vessel. The vessel is then not jammed and can be removed from the vending machine immediately after filling. The solution also has the advantage that it can be realized inexpensively without changing the beverage outlet and the vessel edge sensor.

Preferably, the intermediate position is reached when the vessel edge sensor detects the edge of the vessel arranged in the flow direction below the beverage outlet vessel, or when a device control of the beverage dispenser detects a lower position of the beverage outlet. The beverage outlet is therefore preferably at least slightly height adjusted after reaching the intermediate position, regardless of whether the vessel edge sensor could detect the vessel edge, or not.

The vessel edge sensor is preferably a switching rocker. In principle, however, other vessel edge sensors, for example vessel edge sensor arrangements with one or more ultrasonic sensors, are also preferred.

If the vessel edge sensor detects the edge of the vessel arranged in the flow direction below the beverage outlet vessel, it is preferred, that the defined value, by which the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after reaching the intermediate position, is smaller than when the appliance control of the drinks dispenser indicates the lower position of the beverage outlet.

The device control preferably detects the lower position of the beverage outlet when an engine control of an engine provided for adjusting the beverage outlet indicates this. It is preferred that the engine control system indicates that the lower position has been reached even when the beverage outlet rests on the vessel rim and the intermediate position is arranged above the lower position. The engine control therefore preferably indicates the lower position when the engine has been driven for a sufficient time so that the beverage outlet would have reached it if it had continued to be adjusted.

The beverage dispensing is preferably started after reaching the end position. As a result, the beverage outlet during filling is arranged slightly above the vessel, and the vessel can then be removed directly from the filling region.

In a preferred embodiment, the beverage outlet is adjusted in height after the beverage dispensing against the flow direction until it has reached an upper position of the beverage outlet. The output is therefore always started in this embodiment of the drinks vending machine from the upper, defined position, which allows even without further manual adjustment of the beverage outlet, an arrangement of maximum size vessels in the filling.

The object is further achieved with a beverage vending machine, in particular a coffee machine, for carrying out the method described. The beverage vending machine preferably has a drink outlet that is height-adjustable in and against a flow direction, and a vessel edge sensor. In the beverage dispenser is ensured for the vast majority of the vessels that the beverage outlet during filling is located close above its edge of the vessel, and does not rest on the edge of the vessel, and the vessel is therefore not jammed. It can therefore be removed immediately after filling the drinks vending machines.

The vessel edge sensor is preferably designed as a switching rocker. In this embodiment, it is preferably arranged on a downstream side of the beverage outlet. However, other vessel edge sensors, for example ultrasonic sensors, are also preferred.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to figures. The figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the general idea of the invention.

1 shows in (a) a beverage vending machine with a arranged in an upper position beverage outlet in a perspective view, in (b) the beverage vending machine from (a) with the arranged in an intermediate position beverage outlet in a perspective view, and in (c) the vending machine with the arranged in an end position beverage outlet in a perspective view;

2 shows in (a) schematically a filling area with a beverage outlet of the drinks vending machine 1 in a first side view, and in (b) - (d) each schematically the filling region in a second side view, the (b) the beverage outlet in the upper position, (c) the beverage outlet in the intermediate position, and (d) the beverage outlet show in the final position.

The drinks machine 1 of the 1 is a coffee machine. The invention is also applicable to other drinks vending machines 1 , in particular hot beverage machines, applicable. The following are the terms vending machine 1 and coffee machine used synonymously.

The drinks machine 1 has a filling area 13 in which a drink spout 11 is arranged. The beverage outlet 11 is in and against a flow direction 3 a beverage (not shown) provided adjustable in height. He is here in an upper position O arranged. From the upper position O, it is only in the flow direction 3 height-adjustable.

For height adjustment, the drinks machine 1 an engine 711 on. The motor 711 is by means of a motor control 71 driven. A device control 7 is to control the drinks vending machine 1 intended. The motor 71 , the engine control 711 as well as the device control 7 are shown here schematically.

In the flow direction 61 below the beverage outlet 11 is a vessel 2 on a drip tray 12 switched off. The container 2 is intended to hold the beverage.

To a splashing of the beverage and temperature losses of the beverage when filling the vessel 2 To avoid, the beverage outlet 11 in the flow direction 3 adjusted in height. He should as close as possible during filling of the vessel 2 and above a vessel rim 21 of the vessel 2 be arranged.

For the drinks machine 1 a vessel edge sensor 5 (S. 2 ), which at a bottom 111 the beverage outlet 11 is arranged. With the vessel edge sensor 5 will reach the edge of the vessel 21 detected.

1 (b) shows the drinks vending machine 1 out 1 (a) , where the beverage outlet 11 in the flow direction 3 height-adjusted and arranged in an intermediate position Z. The beverage outlet 11 but here lies on the edge of the vessel 21 on, leaving the vessel 2 between the drip tray 12 and the drinks outlet 11 is stuck. This arrangement is possible when the vessel edge sensor 5 the edge of the vessel 21 has not detected, for example, because this outside the vessel edge sensor 5 is arranged.

To the vessel 2 after filling the filling area 13 Nevertheless, to be able to remove immediately, the beverage outlet 11 after reaching the intermediate position Z by a defined value ΔH against the flow direction 3 put back. He is then placed in an end position E. For the vast majority of the usually for vending machines 1 used vessels 2 is the beverage outlet 11 in the end position E near the edge of the vessel 21 and positioned above this. this shows 1 (c) , As a defined value .DELTA.H, a value in a range of 0.5 cm to 2 cm, preferably in a range of 1 to 1.5 cm, is preferably preset for all of the aforementioned embodiments.

2 shows a first side view of the filling 13 , This is shown on the drip tray 12 and below the drinks outlet 11 parked vessel 2 , The beverage outlet 11 is shown in the upper position O. In dashed lines it is shown for clarity in the intermediate position Z.

Visible is here designed as a switching rocker vessel edge sensor 5 , The following are the terms rocker switch and vessel edge sensor 5 used synonymously. The vessel edge sensor 5 protrudes here into a vessel interior 20 of the vessel 2 into it, so that he the edge of the vessel 21 can not capture. In the intermediate position Z is the beverage outlet 11 therefore on the edge of the vessel 21 on.

Unless the vessel 2 has a sufficiently large cross-sectional shape, it is also conceivable that the beverage outlet 11 when height adjustment in the flow direction in the vessel interior 20 is lowered until it is arranged in a lower position U, in which the beverage outlet 11 not further in flow direction 3 is adjustable. The lower position U is then the intermediate position Z. In this case, the vessel 2 when height adjustment in the flow direction 3 not jammed, and is the filling area 13 Therefore, at least with a pivoting movement removed. Resetting the beverage spout 11 against the flow direction 3 from the lower (intermediate) position U, Z in the end position E but then facilitates the removal of the vessel 2 because the drink spout 11 in the final position E less far or not at all in the vessel interior 20 protrudes than in the lower position U.

To clarify the show 2 B) - (d) a second side view of the filling area 13 , wherein the upper position O and the lower position U are shown schematically. It is visible that the intermediate position Z at here on the edge of the vessel 21 on-lying beverage outlet 11 is arranged above the lower position U. By adjusting the beverage outlet 11 by the defined value ΔH this becomes sufficiently far against the flow direction 3 height adjusted, so that the vessel 2 the filling area 13 can be removed in a horizontal movement.

The reaching of the intermediate position Z is detected by the device control when the vessel edge sensor 5 the edge of the vessel 21 of the vessel 2 detected. The device control 7 detects the intermediate position Z but also when the engine control 71 of the motor 711 that to adjusting the drink spout 11 is provided, the lower position U of the beverage outlet 11 displays. The engine control 71 indicates the lower position U when either the beverage spout 11 this has actually reached, or if he had achieved this, if he continued in the direction of flow 3 would have been adjusted and the beverage outlet 11 not on the edge of the vessel 21 aufläge.

Thereby the device control distinguishes 7 whether the vessel edge sensor 5 the edge of the vessel 21 has captured, or whether the engine control 71 the lower position U indicates. The defined value ΔH, around which the beverage outlet 11 is adjusted in height after reaching the intermediate position Z, after detecting the edge of the vessel 21 with the vessel edge sensor 5 smaller than after detecting the lower position U with the device controller 7 , This will be the beverage outlet 11 after detecting the edge of the vessel 21 with the vessel edge sensor 5 as close as possible to the edge of the vessel 21 positioned. After detecting the lower position U with the device control 7 on the other hand, a defined value ΔH is used as an average value, whereas for average high vessels 2 on the one hand sufficiently high arrangement of the beverage outlet 11 above the vessel 2 ensures the vessel 2 the filling area 13 as horizontally as possible, and on the other hand so close to the vessel 2 in that temperature losses as well as splashing of the beverage are avoided as far as possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Vending machine, Coffee machine

11

 beverage outlet

111

 bottom

12

 drip tray

13

 loading region

2

 Vessel, cup

20

 Vessel interior

21

 vessel edge

3

 adjustment

41, O

 Upper position

42, U

 Lower position

Z

 intermediate position

e

 end position

5

 Sensor for detecting the edge of the vessel, switching rocker

61

 flow direction

62

 First spatial direction

63

 Second spatial direction

7

 device control

71

 motor control

711

 Motor for adjusting the beverage outlet

AH

 Defined value

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010060731 A1 [0003]

Claims (8)

Method for height adjustment of a beverage outlet ( 11 ) of a beverage vending machine ( 1 ), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, wherein the drinks machine ( 1 ) a beverage outlet ( 11 ) as well as a vessel edge sensor ( 5 ), wherein in the process the beverage outlet ( 11 ) after triggering of a beverage dispensing in a flow direction ( 61 ) of a beverage is adjusted in height until an intermediate position (Z) is reached, characterized in that the beverage outlet ( 11 ) after reaching the intermediate position (Z) by a defined value (ΔH) against the flow direction ( 61 ) is returned to an end position (E). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate position (Z) is reached when a vessel edge sensor ( 5 ) a vessel edge ( 21 ) one in the flow direction ( 61 ) below the beverage outlet ( 11 ) arranged vessel ( 2 ), or if a motor control ( 71 ) of an engine ( 711 ) for adjusting the beverage outlet ( 11 ) a lower position (U) of the beverage outlet ( 11 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the defined value (ΔH) by which the beverage outlet after reaching the intermediate position (Z) is adjusted in height, after detecting the edge of the vessel ( 21 ) with the vessel edge sensor ( 5 ) is smaller than after detecting the lower position (U) with the device control ( 7 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage output after reaching the end position (E) is started. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage outlet ( 11 ) after the beverage dispensing against the flow direction ( 61 ) is adjusted in height until it reaches an upper position (O) of the beverage outlet ( 11 ) has reached. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vessel edge sensor ( 5 ) is a rocker switch. Vending machine ( 1 ) for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a flow in and against a flow direction ( 3 ) height-adjustable beverage outlet ( 11 ), and a vessel edge sensor ( 5 ). Vending machine ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the vessel edge sensor ( 5 ) at a flow direction ( 3 ) lower side ( 111 ) of the beverage outlet ( 11 ) arranged and designed as a rocker switch.

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