DE102016107086A1 - Volume and overflow detection - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot drinks machine with at least two or more light sources for illuminating an outlet region in the flow direction below a beverage outlet of a hot drinks machine, wherein the lighting means are provided for illuminating the outlet region of different light directions, with at least one camera for taking pictures of a container arranged in the outlet region , and with a device controller configured to control an outlet quantity and / or outlet composition of a hot beverage in response to at least two images captured by the camera, wherein the outlet area for each image is illuminated with at least one other illuminant. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling a discharge amount of a hot beverage and / or a plurality of partial discharge amounts of various beverage additives of the hot beverage when filling a container disposed in an outlet region of a hot beverage machine.

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a hot drinks machine with at least two or more light sources for illuminating an outlet region in the flow direction below a beverage outlet of the hot beverage dispenser, and with at least one camera for taking pictures of a container arranged in the outlet region. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling a discharge amount of a hot beverage and / or a plurality of partial discharge amounts of various beverage additives of the hot beverage when filling a container disposed in an outlet region of a hot beverage machine.

There are known coffee machines that store a user profile of a user. The user profile, for example, a mixture ratio of coffee, water, milk and / or other beverage additives deposited. Such a mixing ratio is stored conventionally for a particular cup, and therefore based on the receiving volume of this cup. Therefore, the mixing ratio is no longer correct when the user uses a cup / container having a different receiving volume.

In addition, the container may overflow if it has a smaller receiving volume and the user does not stop the cover in time. On the other hand, the container is not completely filled when its receiving volume is smaller than the receiving volume of the cup used as a reference.

There are known hot beverage machines that detect the container height by lowering a detection means on the container edge, and then the container is filled accordingly.

However, even with this method, the cup may overflow when filled if a beverage additive is already contained in the cup or the cup has a smaller volume compared to a so-called reference cup.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a hot beverage dispenser which fills a container with a predetermined mixing ratio of various beverage additives, and a method for controlling a discharge amount of a hot beverage and / or a plurality of discharge amounts of various beverage additives of the hot beverage for the container.

The object is achieved with a hot drinks machine having the features of independent patent claim 1, a method for controlling an outlet quantity of a hot beverage and / or a plurality of partial outlet quantities of various beverage additives of the hot beverage when filling a container with the features of independent claim 6. Advantageous embodiments are the dependent claims removable.

For a hot beverage machine, especially a coffee machine, created. The automatic coffee machine has at least two or more lighting means for illuminating an outlet region in the flow direction below a beverage outlet of the hot beverage dispenser. The bulbs are provided for illuminating the outlet area of different light directions. Furthermore, the hot drinks machine has at least one camera for taking pictures of a container arranged in the outlet area. The hot beverage dispenser also has a device control which is adapted to control an outlet volume and / or a composition of a hot beverage discharged from the beverage outlet of the hot beverage dispenser in dependence on at least two images captured by the camera. In this case, the outlet is illuminated when taking pictures with one or more bulbs. The hot drinks machine is characterized in that the outlet area for each image is illuminated with at least one other light source.

By illuminating from different directions, different contours of the container are illuminated. As a result, the contours of different areas of the container can be better detected in each case. By comparing the light to dark transitions of the images, the contours of the container can thus be completed.

The detected contours of the container are preferably outer contours of the container. However, it is also preferred that the device control is designed to detect a container edge, a container opening and / or a container interior of the container. This allows the user to see if the container is positioned flush with the beverage outlet. In addition, a level height of the hot beverage in the container is so monitored.

Alternatively or additionally, the device control is preferably designed to calculate a container volume of the container. A calculation of the container volume is preferably carried out based on the detected outer contours of the container.

The container volume calculated, in particular based on the outer contour, is preferably an outer volume of the container. Preferably, the internal volume of the container is calculated taking into account a conversion constant, which is a measure of a container thickness of the container, based on the external volume. In this case, a volume that corresponds to the container thickness, calculated from the external volume to calculate the internal volume.

The hot drinks machine may for this purpose have a light source in front, behind, on opposite sides and / or below the outlet area. The bulbs are preferably formed as an infrared illuminant.

To capture very clear light to dark transitions, the camera is preferably designed as a CCD camera. It is preferably arranged in the flow direction above the outlet region. Preferably, it has an angle of inclination relative to a drip grid arranged below the outlet area. As a result, the outlet region, in particular below the beverage outlet, can be detected. In a preferred embodiment, a CMOS camera is in use, which is compared to a CCD camera an improved Lichtemfpindlichkeit and much faster.

The object is further achieved by a method for controlling an outlet quantity of a hot beverage and / or a plurality of partial outlet quantities of different beverage additives of the hot beverage when filling a container arranged in an outlet region of the hot beverage machine. The partial discharge quantities are preferably calculated from the composition of the hot beverage.

• a) zumindest zwei Bilder des Behälters bei wechselnder Beleuchtung des Auslassbereiches mit jeweils zumindest einem anderen Leuchtmittel aufgenommen werden,
• b) hell zu dunkel Übergänge der Bilder erfasst werden,
• c) die erfassten hell zu dunkel Übergänge der Bilder miteinander verglichen und/oder überlagert werden, wobei – eine Außenkontur des Behälters, – ein Behälterinnenraum, – eine Behälteröffnung, und/oder – ein Behälterrand erfasst werden, und
• d) ein Behältervolumen anhand der Außenkontur berechnet wird.

The procedure provides that:

• a) at least two images of the container are recorded with changing illumination of the outlet region, each with at least one other illuminant,
• b) light to dark transitions of images are captured
• c) the detected light-to-dark transitions of the images are compared and / or superimposed, wherein - an outer contour of the container, - a container interior, - a container opening, and / or - a container edge are detected, and
• d) a container volume is calculated on the basis of the outer contour.

The method allows controlling a discharge amount of a hot beverage into a container disposed in the discharge area of a hot beverage machine. In this case, the level of the hot beverage can be monitored. On the basis of the outer contour of the container, a container volume of the container, and on the basis of which a possible outlet quantity, can be calculated, in which an overflow of the container is avoided. This allows a targeted calculation of the proportions of various beverage additives of a hot beverage of a defined composition.

Preferably, a camera, in particular a CCD camera or CMOS camera, is used to take the pictures. In principle, a conventional black and white, color or infrared camera can be used. However, it has been shown that with a camera of the type mentioned a very good accuracy can be achieved.

The camera takes at least two or more images of the outlet area, in particular below the beverage outlet, from a fixed perspective. In this case, the outlet region is illuminated for each of the images from at least one other illumination direction. The hot drinks machine has for this purpose bulbs that illuminate the outlet each from a different direction of illumination. Preferably, the lighting means for this purpose are arranged in or near the outlet region at different positions of the hot beverage dispenser.

To detect the light to dark transitions, the hot drinks machine also has a device control. The device controller is designed to control the multiple lamps and the camera. In addition, it is designed to capture the light to dark transitions of the images. Preferably, either the transitions from dark to light or the transitions from light to dark are always recorded. The light to dark transitions give the outer contour of the container at least approximately.

Since different areas of the container are illuminated due to the different illumination direction of the illuminants, different contour areas of the container can be detected with each of the images. By superimposing several images, a contour area that may not be completely covered by a single image is completed.

In addition, the superposition of the images allows a plausibility check of the detected outer contour. It is preferred that one or more further images are taken from one or more different illumination directions if the detected outer contour is implausible.

Preferably, a plurality of containers arranged in the outlet region are detected on the basis of the comparison of the light-to-dark transitions, especially during the plausibility check. Depending on the light directions of the light sources used, the comparison of the light-to-dark transitions makes it clear whether and, if so, which container is arranged below the beverage outlet. The device control is preferably designed so that the filling of a container takes place only when it is arranged below the beverage outlet.

When determining the outer contour of the container, a drip grid arranged in the outlet region is preferably detected as reference lower edge. The drip grid is detected, for example, by its structure. Also preferably, a light source can be provided for detecting the drip grid.

To determine the container opening, an ellipse enclosing the container opening can be approximately determined on the basis of the light-to-dark transitions.

Furthermore, preference is given to using the comparison of the light to dark transitions transparent container recognized. For transparent containers, a change in the filling level can be detected directly on the basis of the comparison of the light-to-dark transitions taken one after the other without monitoring the container opening and / or the container interior. Therefore, a simplified algorithm can be used for level determination.

An outlet quantity of the hot beverage intended for filling the container is preferably calculated on the basis of the internal volume. Furthermore, it is preferable that the partial discharge amounts of a hot beverage containing various beverage additives are calculated based on the calculated internal volume. Particularly preferably, the beverage additives are filled in succession. It is particularly preferred that the outlet of the hot beverage is smaller than the inner volume of the container, in particular about 15-25% smaller. An optionally too small conversion constant to take account of the container thickness therefore does not lead to an overflow of the container during filling. Also taken into account by about 15-25% smaller outlet volume compared to the inner volume of the container that optionally already a beverage additive is filled in the container.

In addition, images of the container, in particular with changing illumination of the outlet region, can be recorded continuously during filling. It is preferred that by comparing the light to dark transitions of the container opening and / or the container interior of a plurality of continuously recorded during filling images, a change in the level height of the hot beverage is detected in the container.

Preferably, the beverage outlet is stopped when the level reaches a limit based on the container edge. Particularly preferably, the filling is stopped when the hot beverage is detected about 1-2 cm below the container edge. As a result, overflow is prevented even if the container already contained a large amount of a beverage additive.

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 a hot beverage machine according to the invention.

1 shows a hot beverage machine according to the invention 1 , here a coffee machine in a sketched view. This is a coffee machine. Therefore, the terms hot drinks machine 1 , Coffee machine and coffee machine are used synonymously below. The illustration shows a built-in device. The invention is also applicable to stationary hot beverage machines. All direction and position information refer to the operational installation position of the machine 1 ,

The coffee machine 1 has a beverage outlet 11 for dispensing a hot beverage, for example coffee, milk coffee or cappuccino (not shown). The beverage outlet 11 is in an outlet area 2 of the hot beverage machine 1 arranged. He stands slightly in the outlet area here 2 into it.

To catch the hot drink is a container 3 in the flow direction 6 of the hot beverage below the beverage outlet 11 locatable. As a container 3 Here is a cup shown. The container 3 is on the footprint or a drip tray 12 of the hot beverage machine 1 switched off.

To the container 3 as completely as possible with a hot drink, in particular a defined composition of various beverage additives to fill, sees the hot drinks machine shown 1 a calculation of the internal volume of the container 3 in front. On the basis of the internal volume, the outlet volume of the hot beverage and optionally the Teilauslassmengen the beverage additives of the hot beverage can be calculated.

This is indicated by the hot drinks machine 1 a device control 13 which is designed to have one discharge amount and / or more Teilauslassmengen a consisting of a composition of several beverage additives hot beverage as a function of at least two with a camera 4 control captured images. The camera 4 is preferably above the outlet area 2 arranged so that they are in the flow direction 6 below the beverage outlet 11 arranged outlet area 2 detected. Preferably, it has a tilt angle for it 41 , in particular to a drip tray 12 , on. It is advantageously designed here as a CCD camera or, preferably, as a CMOS camera.

The drip tray 12 is for parking the container 3 provided and forms a lower limit of the outlet area 2 , Preferably, it is used as a reference lower edge.

In or near the outlet area 2 are laterally, behind, above and / or below this several bulbs 51 - 54 arranged. Shown here are a flat bulb 53 on one of the camera 4 opposite side of the outlet area 2 , a flat illuminant 51 below the outlet area 2 at the rear end of the niche in the lower area or just above the footprint or drip grid 12 , a point illuminant or so-called spot radiator 52 on the side where the camera is 4 is attached and each above the outlet area 2 side of the beverage outlet 11 a point light 54 , The bulbs 51 - 54 are designed as infrared illuminants. You are ready for the appearance of the hot drinks machine 1 advantageous is, behind infrared permeable walls 14 arranged. As the bulbs 51 - 54 at different positions of the outlet area 2 arranged, they illuminate the area 2 or the container set up therein 3 from different lighting directions 71 - 74 ,

It has been shown that by illuminating the outlet area 2 with only a single bulb 51 - 54 the contour of the container 3 is not sufficiently detectable. Therefore, take multiple pictures with the camera 4 recorded, wherein for each of the images at least one other bulbs 51 - 54 is used. This changes the lighting direction 71 - 74 in which the container 3 is illuminated. This will cause different areas of the container 3 illuminated. Because the camera 4 The images taken from a fixed perspective, are different areas of the container 3 detected by the light to dark transitions. These can be superimposed. This can change the contour of the container 3 , in particular its outer contour, to be completed.

In addition, the device control is 13 designed to container rim 31 , a container opening 33 and / or a container interior 32 capture. Again, this is done by comparing the light to dark transitions of the different images. To determine the container opening 33 Using the light to dark transitions, an ellipse representing the container opening can be used 33 encloses, be approximated.

The overlay of the images allows a plausibility check of the outer contour. In this case, several containers arranged in the outlet region 3 be recorded. Based on the detected container opening 33 Each container is recognizable which container below the beverage outlet 11 is arranged. The device control 13 is designed only for this or that container 3 to fill. Unless any of the containers 3 below the beverage outlet 11 is arranged, this is displayed to the operator. This is indicated by the hot drinks machine 1 an ad 15 , in particular a display, on.

On the basis of the outer contour, a container volume can still be calculated. Initially, the container external volume is calculated. Then, the container internal volume is calculated on the basis of the container outer volume, wherein a container thickness is taken into account by a conversion constant.

Based on the calculated internal volume, the discharge quantity of the hot beverage and / or the partial discharge quantities of the beverage additives can now be calculated.

While filling, images will continue to be taken with the camera 4 detected. Also, it is preferred that different bulbs 51 - 54 be used to the lighting direction 71 - 74 to change and the container 3 by comparing the light to dark transitions as completely as possible.

With these images, the level of the container is detected. In this case, the discharge of the hot beverage is stopped when the level height is a limit based on the container edge 31 has reached.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Hot drinks machine, coffee machine

11

beverage outlet

12

drip tray

13

device control

14

Infrared-transparent walls / windows of the niche

15

Display, display

2

outlet

3

container

31

container edge

32

Container interior

33

container opening

4

camera

41

tilt angle

51-54

Bulbs, infrared lights

6

flow direction

71-74

illumination directions

Claims (14)

Hot drinks machine ( 1 ), in particular automatic coffee machine, with at least two or more lamps ( 51 - 54 ) for illuminating an outlet area ( 2 ) in the flow direction ( 6 ) below a beverage outlet ( 6 ) of the hot drinks machine ( 1 ), the bulbs ( 51 - 54 ) for illuminating the outlet area ( 2 ) from different light directions ( 71 - 74 ) are provided with at least one camera ( 4 ) for taking pictures of one in the outlet area ( 2 ) arranged container ( 3 ), and with a device control ( 13 ) which is adapted to control an outlet quantity and / or an outlet composition of a hot beverage as a function of at least two with the camera ( 4 ) controlled images, wherein the outlet area ( 2 ) for each image with at least one other illuminant ( 51 - 54 ) is lit. Hot drinks machine ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device control ( 13 ) is adapted to a container edge (depending on the images) ( 31 ), a container opening ( 33 ) and / or a container interior ( 32 ) and / or a container volume of the container ( 3 ) to calculate. Hot drinks machine ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a light source ( 51 - 54 ) in front, behind, to the side and / or below the outlet area ( 2 ) having. Hot drinks machine ( 1 ) According to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting means ( 51 - 54 ) Are infrared illuminants, and / or that the camera ( 4 ) is a CCD camera or CMOS camera. Hot drinks machine ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the camera ( 4 ) an inclination angle ( 41 ) opposite one below the outlet area ( 2 ) arranged drip grid ( 12 ) having. Method for controlling a discharge quantity of a hot beverage and / or a plurality of partial discharge quantities of different beverage additives of the hot beverage when filling one in an outlet region ( 2 ) of a hot drinks machine ( 1 ) arranged container ( 3 ), in which: a) at least two images of the container ( 3 ) with changing illumination of the outlet area ( 2 ) each with at least one other light source ( 51 - 54 b) light-to-dark transitions of the images are detected, c) the detected light-to-dark transitions of the images are compared with each other, wherein - an outer contour of the container ( 3 ), - a container opening ( 33 ), - a container interior ( 32 ), and / or - a container edge ( 31 ), and d) a container volume is calculated based on the outer contour. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that for determining the container volume in the outlet area ( 2 ) arranged drip grid ( 12 ) is detected as the reference lower edge. Method according to one of claims 6-7, characterized in that the container volume an outer volume of the container ( 3 ), wherein the internal volume is calculated taking into account a conversion constant for a container thickness on the basis of the external volume. Method according to one of claims 6-8, characterized in that the outlet quantity and / or the Teilauslassmengen be calculated on the basis of the internal volume. Method according to one of claims 6-9, characterized in that the outlet volume is smaller than the internal volume of the container ( 3 ), in particular about 15-25% smaller. Method according to one of claims 6-10, characterized in that based on the comparison of the light to dark transitions several in the outlet area ( 2 ) arranged containers ( 3 ) be recognized. Method according to one of claims 6-11, characterized in that on the basis of the comparison of the light to dark transitions transparent container ( 3 ) be recognized. Method according to one of claims 6-12, characterized in that during the filling continuously images of the container ( 3 ), in particular with changing illumination of the outlet area ( 2 ), and by comparing the light to dark transitions of the container interior ( 32 ) of several consecutively recorded images, a change in a level height of the hot beverage in the container ( 3 ) is detected. Method according to one of claims 6-13, characterized in that the discharge of the hot beverage is stopped when the Level height reached a limit based on the container edge.

Images