Abstract:
The present application relates to a pouch location device ( 18 ) for a machine ( 10 ) for dispensing beverages or foods, and in particular to a device for enabling a soft pouch ( 31 ) containing beverage or food ingredients to be accurately located in a bar code reader ( 37 ). The pouch location device comprises a slot ( 17 ) for receiving at least an end of a flexible pouch. The slot ( 17 ) has an entry aperture ( 32 ) at one end, an end wall ( 34 ) at the opposing end, a substantially transparent window ( 30 ) defining the top of the slot, a spring biased platen ( 33 ) defining the base of the slot. The platen ( 33 ) defines the lower lip of the entry aperture ( 32 ) and is angled to taper the slot ( 17 ) towards the end wall ( 34 ).

Description:
[0001]    The present application relates to a pouch location device for a machine for dispensing beverages or foods, and in particular to a device for enabling a soft pouch containing beverage or food ingredients to be accurately located in a bar code reader. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Machines for dispensing beverages are well known. For example, coffee filter machines have been available for many years which combine hot water with ground coffee beans to produce a coffee extract that is then passed through a paper filter into a carafe. U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,717 describes one such machine. In more recent times ‘on-demand’ beverage machines have been marketed which allow for beverages to be produced on an individual basis as required by a user. Examples of such machines include those marketed under the brand names NESPRESSO® by Nestlé S. A. and SENSEO® by Sara Lee Corporation which allow individual servings of coffee to be produced from individual sealed capsules or flexible bags of ground coffee. 
         [0003]    Still more recently, beverage machines allowing for convenient, on demand dispensation of a range of beverage types have been produced. One example of such a system is marketed under the brand name TASSIMO® by Kraft Foods, Inc. This system (as described in EP-A-1440639) utilises a beverage machine that comprises a barcode reader and a range of beverage cartridges wherein each beverage cartridge contains one or more beverage ingredients and is coded with a barcode. In use, the code reader of the beverage machine scans and reads the barcode on a beverage cartridge after it is inserted into the machine and uses information decoded from the barcode to set one or more dispensation parameters of the beverage machine for that dispensation cycle. For each beverage cartridge the manufacturer determines the dispensation parameters and applies the relevant barcode at the point of manufacture. In addition, each beverage cartridge can only be used once. 
         [0004]    It is known from the development of the prior art system described above that the design of a linear bar code reader can be made simpler, cheaper and more reliable if the bar code is always presented to the scanner in a consistent orientation, with tight positional and rotational tolerances. It is also preferable if the printed bar code is presented under a controlled illumination source and if the printed bar code substrate material is substantially free of dents, ripples or creases. This is particularly important when a two dimensional bar code scanner is used, as it simplifies optical sensor design and significantly reduces the amount of image processing and decoding required. Whilst a number of commercial bar code scanners can be optimized to scan a bar code at any orientation and distance, this requires complex optics and intensive processor resources. 
         [0005]    In addition to machines which utilise cartridges for the preparation of beverages, another proposed type of machine uses beverage and food ingredients packed in soft laminate pouches (also known as stick packs). Such pouches are advantageous as they provide sustainable packaging with minimal waste. However such pouches are extremely pliable and therefore have few features which would enable the pouch to be reliably located relative to the bar reader. It is therefore particularly difficult to create the optimal reading conditions with a soft flexible pouch due to the inherent poor stiffness thereof. 
         [0006]    US-A-2004/0046025 describes a card scanner for reading 1D or 2D bar codes on a rigid or semi-rigid card, such as a credit card, which is manually inserted into a slot reader. The reader laterally constraints the card as it enters the slot and employs a line by line approach to gradually building up an image of the code as it is manually moved across the linear image sensor. A spring loaded hinged pressure plate engages with the card upon entry and a series of protrusions on the plate press the card against the window of a contact image sensor to guarantee a fixed reading distance and to compensate for curvature in the card. However, this device is only suitable for reading the codes on rigid cards and not for resolving the problem identified above with soft flexible pouches. 
         [0007]    One object of the present disclosure is to provide a pouch locating device for a machine for dispensing beverages or foods into which the user can insert a soft pouch, which contains beverage of food ingredients and is provided with a machine readable code, for reliable decoding. 
         [0008]    A further object is to provide a machine for dispensing beverages or foods incorporating such a device in which, if the pouch is successfully decoded, the device generates a signal which can be used, for example, to activate the optimal beverage preparation cycle, or to open a hatch to enable the contents of the pouch to be poured in ready for beverage or food preparation, or to snip open the pouch. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0009]    The disclosure therefore provides a pouch location device for a beverage or food preparation machine comprising a slot for receiving at least an end of a flexible pouch, said slot having an entry aperture at one end, an end wall at the opposing end, a substantially transparent window defining the top of the slot, a spring biased platen defining the base of the slot, wherein the platen defines the lower lip of the entry aperture and is angled to taper the slot towards the end wall. 
         [0010]    Preferably the platen is formed by a sprung cantilever or a hinged plate. 
         [0011]    Spring means are preferably located beneath the plate which may comprise a leaf spring or a helical spring. 
         [0012]    Preferably, a position sensor configured to sense whether a pouch is correctly located within the slot. 
         [0013]    The disclosure further provides a beverage or food preparation machine comprising the aforementioned pouch location device and an image sensor located in the vicinity of the window to enable a machine readable code on a pouch inserted in the slot to be read, wherein the image sensor generates a signal according to information read from the code on the pouch. 
         [0014]    A control system is preferably provided which receives the signal generated by the image sensor and controls operation of the machine according to the nature of the signal. 
         [0015]    The image sensor is preferably a 2D bar code reader. 
         [0016]    The pouch location device may be mounted within the machine at an angle in the range of 30 to 50 degrees to the horizontal and preferably at 45 degrees preferably a lighting source is provided in the vicinity of the window. 
         [0017]    The machine may further comprise cutting means which are activated by the signal generated by the reader, to cut an end off a pouch located in the pouch location device. 
         [0018]    The disclosure further provides a system for preparing beverage or food comprising the aforementioned machine and at least one pouch containing beverage or food ingredients bearing a machine readable code. 
         [0019]    The machine readable code is preferably a 2D bar code. 
         [0020]    The disclosure further provides a method of preparing a beverage or food product using the aforementioned system comprising the steps of selecting a pouch bearing a machine readable code containing information regarding the pouch contents, inserting the pouch into the pouch location device to enable the code on the pouch to be read by the image sensor, pouring the contents of the pouch into a preparation chamber in the machine, and activating the machine to enable liquid to be supplied to the chamber so as to form the beverage or food product. 
         [0021]    The machine is preferably activated by an appropriate signal generated by the image sensor. 
         [0022]    The chamber is only opened by an appropriate signal generated by the image sensor. 
         [0023]    The pouch location device therefore constrains, locates and flattens the code against the underside of a reading window which enables shadow-free illumination and greatly improves reading reliability. The resulting spring assisted action feels natural, intuitive and provides positive force feedback to the user, temporarily stiffening the flexible pouch to assist with its manipulation. 
         [0024]    This arrangement is particularly convenient as it enables single handed operation to locate and temporarily constrain the pouch during the scanning process. It also removes the influence of external light levels and enables controlled illumination. 
         [0025]    The advantage of using a spring loaded platen makes the location device tolerant of pouches with different fill weights and pressures. It also provides tactile feedback for the user and automatically compensates when a user pushes too hard against the end stop. 
         [0026]    When using a cost-reduced linear bar code reader it is necessary to constrain the bar code in a fixed position with known tolerances along its length in order to simplify the scanner design and to guarantee reliable scanning. Whilst this is simple with a rigid pack format that is clamped during brewing, like the aforementioned cartridges, it is more difficult with a flexible pouch. For 2D bar codes, accurate location and constraint of the bar code pattern is doubly important as two axes are being scanned. Thus, the use of the location device increases the bar code reader reliability due to the accurate location of the bar code under the scanner window in the slot and by smoothing the pouch material to make it substantially free of dents, ripples or creases in the bar code region. 
         [0027]    The pouch location device is thus a locating mechanism that provides the benefits of; 
         [0028]    accurately and reliably locating and registering the pouch bar code under the scanner window which enables a simple low cost 2D bar code scanner to be used; 
         [0029]    partially stiffening the pack as it is progressively entered into the slot and flattening the bar code against the window in the scanning region to improve read reliability; 
         [0030]    compensating for variations in pack volume, fill weight, and gas head space. 
         [0031]    providing positive feedback to the user when inserting a soft pouch into a blind slot up to an end stop; 
         [0032]    compensating for the user pushing the pouch too hard against the locating end stop and buckling the pouch. 
         [0033]    One embodiment of the pouch location device of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a beverage preparation machine incorporating a pouch location device; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are side elevations of one embodiment of a pouch location device with a pouch inserted therein; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3   c  is a side elevation of the pouch location device of  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  set at an angle within a beverage preparation machine; and 
           [0037]      FIGS. 4   a  to  4   d  are perspective views of the pouch location device of  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  showing a pouch at different stages of insertion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    This disclosure relates to a pouch location device for use with an image sensor, such as a bar code scanner, in a machine for dispensing beverages or foods. The device enables accurate registration of a flexible pouch containing food or beverage ingredients and the machine readable code thereon, when it is inserted into the pouch location device. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate one type of beverage dispensing machine  10  which the device is suitable for use with. The beverage dispensing machine  10  generally comprises a housing  11 , a tank  12 , a water heater, a beverage preparation chamber and a pump for pumping water from the tank  12  to the chamber via the heater. The front of the housing  11  defines a dispensing station  13  where dispensation of the beverage takes place, which includes a cup stand  14  with a drip tray  15  located beneath. The dispensing station  13  includes a beverage outlet  16 , which communicates with the beverage preparation chamber, through the prepared beverage is dispensed. 
         [0040]    Also located in the front of the housing  11  is an inlet aperture  32  of a recessed pouch entry slot  17 , into which a leading end of a pouch  31  is to be inserted. 
         [0041]    An aperture  19  is located at the top of the housing  11 , which communicates with the chamber. The aperture  19  preferably includes access means for opening and closing the aperture  19 . 
         [0042]    One embodiment of the pouch location device  18  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The pouch location device  18  comprises a substantially transparent rigid plate providing a scanning window  30  defining the top of the pouch entry slot  17 . The plate may be of toughened glass, perspex or another suitable material which is resistant to abrasion. The width of the slot  17  is selected to suit the dimensions of the pouch  31  and the inlet aperture  32  to the slot  17  preferably has tapered edges to promote easy insertion of the pouch  31  into the slot  17 . Preferably the slot  17  is 1 to 3 mm wider than the maximum width of the pouch  31 . An end wall  34  of the pouch location device  18  defines the end of the slot  17 . In the base of the pouch location device  18  is a light sprung platen  33 . The platen  33  defines the bottom of the slot  17 , and tapers in an upward direction from the inlet aperture  32  towards the end wall  34 . The platen  33  may be made from a thin sheet of resilient material, such as polycarbonate, which is folded to create a sprung cantilever. Alternatively it may be a metal or plastic plate, hinged at the entry to the slot  17  with a spring, such as a helical or a leaf spring, mounted underneath the platen  33 . 
         [0043]    The pouch location device  18  is preferably mounted in the machine  10  at an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees to the horizontal, preferably 45 degrees. The angle is selected to be sufficiently steep to encourage the contents of the pouch  31  to fall towards the trailing end of the pouch  31  (i.e. the opposite end to the leading end which is inserted into the aperture  32 ) whilst still allowing room for mounting an image sensor  37  above the device  18 . 
         [0044]    The image sensor  37  is focused onto the scanning window  30 . The image sensor  37  may be a conventional 2D bar code scanner or a miniature CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) sensor with a short focal distance, which is typically less than 25 mm. A suitable image sensor  37  is made by Omnivision Technologies Inc. 
         [0045]    The pouch location device  18  is preferably provided with a detection switch or sensor which will sense when the pouch  31  is in the correct place for scanning, and to ensure that the platen  33  is not over depressed. Sensing if the platen  33  is overdepressed enables the control system of the machine  10  to issue a warning to the user to relax their grip, thus helping to reduce the need for a repeat scan. 
         [0046]    The pouch location device  18  is intended for use with a pouch  31  having at least one end seam  35  (typically formed by a suitable welding or sealing process) at the leading end and which contains beverage or food ingredients, which may be in dry or liquid form. Suitable materials for the pouch  31  include flexible plastic laminates comprising layers of polyester, aluminium and polypropylene. The width of the pouch  31  may be in the range of 15 mm to 75 mm and more preferably in the range of 25 mm to 50 mm; and the length may be in the range of 75 mm to 200 mm, and preferably in the range of 120 mm to 160 mm. However the dimensions of the pouch  31  depend on the quantity of ingredients which the pouch  31  is required to hold. 
         [0047]    The pouch  31  bears a machine readable code  36 , on one Surface. Preferably the code  36  is a bar code printed on the pouch  31  using an encrypted 2D bar code. However the code  36  may be any monochrome or colour printed symbology which carries encoded information and is machine readable. The code  36  may be overt or covert. Covert images may be printed using, for example, infrared or ultraviolet inks. 
         [0048]    When a beverage or food is to be prepared the user inserts a pouch  31  ( FIG. 4   a ) into the aperture  32 . As the pouch  31  passes into the slot  17  it engages against the spring-loaded platen  33  and the user feels an initial resistance as the pressure in the pouch  31  rises slightly. It is a natural reaction for the user, at this point to push the pouch  31  against this resistance and an attempt to do so, by grasping the pouch  31  harder, causes the leading end to inflate and stiffen, gently depressing the spring-loaded platen  33  and enabling entry. Other attempts at entry, for example by simply pushing the pouch  31  from the trailing end, are not as successful because the pouch  31  tends to buckle or fold and it is soon learned that grasping and squeezing the pouch  31  is the best way to ease it into to slot  17 . 
         [0049]    As the pouch  31  is further inserted into the slot  17  ( FIG. 4   b ), the pressure in the pouch  31  rises a little more and gives the user positive feedback, in that it becomes slightly stiffer and easier to manipulate. As a result of this action the code  36  is pressed flat against the scanning window  30 , thereby conveniently removing any surface irregularities or creases in this critical area. 
         [0050]    Finally, as the pouch  31  depresses the platen  33  further ( FIGS. 3   a  and  4   c ) the end seam  35  at the leading end of the pouch  31  meets the end wall  34  of the slot  17  and this acts as a physical barrier to further entry. If an unsupported pouch  31  were to be pushed against a wall, then the end seam  35  would simply fold over with the loss of registration. However, when pushed into the pouch location device  18 , the end seam  35  is supported by a combination of the tapered platen  33 , the slot side walls and the self-stiffening of the pouch  31 . The user thus receives positive indication that the pouch  31  is located up against the end wall  34  in the pouch location device  18  and should stop applying force. If, however the user continues to apply excessive force after the pouch  31  meets the end wall  34  then the platen  33  is depressed. downwards ( FIGS. 3   b  and  4   d ) and the stored energy helps restores the pouch shape after the user releases it. 
         [0051]    Once correctly located the scanner scans the code  36  through the window  30  and generates a signal according to the information read from the code  36 . This signal may be used in a number of different ways, for example to switch the machine  10  on, to select the optimal beverage preparation program according to the nature of the ingredients in the pouch  31 , to open the access means closing off the aperture  19  to enable the user to pour the contents of the pouch  31  into the beverage preparation chamber. The machine  10  can also be programmed to only operate for “approved” pouches  31 , i.e. those with recognised codes. 
         [0052]    The aperture  32  to the slot  17  is preferably oriented in a horizontal position, with the slot  17  operating at 45 to 60 degrees to the horizontal. This helps to prevent the accumulation of foreign matter in the slot  17  and encourages the contents of the pouch  31  to fall to its trailing end just before entry. This makes it easier to insert the pouch  31  and enables the feature described in the following paragraph to be used. 
         [0053]    The pouch contents are then poured into a suitable chamber in the machine  10  and the machine activated to enable water to enter the chamber to prepare the beverage or food product. 
         [0054]    The pouch location device  18  may also be provided with a guillotine, or other cutting means, which is activated once the appropriate signal is generated by the bar code reader, to cut the end seam  35  off the pouch  31 , thereby making it easy for the user to pour the pouch contents into the chamber in the machine  10 . 
         [0055]    The pouch location device  18  may also be provided with a lighting source, such as LEDs, which provide controlled illumination to optimise the reading process. The lighting source is located in the vicinity of the window  30 . 
         [0056]    Although water is likely to be the most common liquid used in preparing beverages such as coffee, the machine  10  is also capable of handling other liquids, such as milk or milk preparations, for mixing with the beverage ingredients. Any references herein to water should also be taken to include any form of liquid used in preparing beverages. 
         [0057]    Although this system is particularly suitable for machines for preparing beverages, such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate and the like, it is also suitable for preparing liquid food products, such as soup. Any references herein to beverages should also be taken to include any form of liquid food products.