Patent ID: 11903519
Assignee: CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.P.A.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 2:
3. A method for recognising a capsule in an apparatus that uses capsules for making beverages wherein:
the capsule (1) has a cup-shaped body (3) that is closed at the top by a disk-shaped lid (4) and that contains a food substance;
present on an outer surface (5) of the disk-shaped lid (4) there are an asymmetrical graphical element (6), inside which a central point (10) of the outer surface (5) of the disk-shaped lid (4) lies, and a graphical code (7) that is located in an eccentric position relative to the central point (10); both the asymmetrical graphical element (6) and the graphical code (7) being visible in the visible spectrum;
the position of the asymmetrical graphical element (6) and the graphical code (7) relative to each other is a known predetermined position; and
the capsule (1) may adopt, in the apparatus (2), any rotational position relative to its own central axis substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped lid (4) and passing through the central point (10);, the method comprising the operating steps of:
acquiring, by means of a detecting device (20) of the apparatus (2), an image in electronic format, which shows at least one part of the outer surface (5) of the disk-shaped lid (4) in the visible spectrum, and in which both the asymmetrical graphical element (6) and the graphical code (7) are present;
by means of an electronic processing unit of the apparatus (2), identifying in the electronic image the asymmetrical graphical element (6) or one or more parts of it, identifying its position in the image and saving that position as a reference position; and
by means of the electronic processing unit of the apparatus (2), starting from the reference position and using the known predetermined position, identifying in the electronic image both a position in which the graphical code (7) is located and a graphical code (7) reading orientation;
by means of the electronic processing unit of the apparatus (2), reading the graphical code (7) taking into account the position and the orientation previously identified in the electronic image, obtaining a code in electronic format; and, considering the capsule (1) recognised when the electronic processing unit has obtained the code in electronic format.