Patent ID: 8950254
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: A47J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A beverage machine comprising: a tank holding a liquid for preparing a beverage; an outlet valve in fluid communication with the tank; a dispenser, to which the tank is connectable, the dispenser comprising an opening for receiving the outlet valve; at least one ultrasonic transceiver disposed in the opening of the dispenser below the valve, the position of the opening corresponding to the position of the valve, and the valve being designed to open to allow the at least one ultrasonic transceiver to emit and to receive ultrasonic waves in the liquid contained in the tank to determine a distance from the transceiver to the liquid level; and a control unit connected to the at least one ultrasonic transceiver, the control unit being adapted to determine changes in the distance with time and as a result of a volume of the liquid flowing out of the tank.