Abstract:
An apparatus, system, and method for use with beverages and beverage making and dispensing equipment. The apparatus, system, and method of use monitors characteristics of the beverage, reports characteristics, or both and selectively affects the beverage and beverage making and dispensing equipment, a server containing the beverage, or both. The apparatus, system, and method of use employs an information vehicle device associated with each beverage server or dispenser and a reader which reads the information device. The reader communicates the information from the information device to a controller for use to individually or collectively display information, collect information, and/or selectively affect the condition of the beverage in response to the information.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, system, and method for use with beverages and beverage making and dispensing equipment. The apparatus, system, and method of use monitors characteristics of the beverage, reports characteristics, or both and selectively affects the beverage and beverage making and dispensing equipment, a server containing the beverage, or both. The apparatus, system, and method of use employs an information device associated with each beverage server or dispenser and a reader which reads the information device. The reader communicates the information from the information device to a controller for use to individually or collectively display information, collect information, and/or selectively affect the condition of the beverage in response to the information. 
         [0002]    The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following brief description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a beverage system for use with the present apparatus, system, and method, illustrating a server including an information device positioned relative to a reader for obtaining information from the information device, also illustrated are multiple stations including corresponding readers, controllers, and displays; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a heatable server including an information device positioned on the heatable server; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a thermal server including an information device positioned on the thermal server; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a beverage system for use with the present apparatus, system, and method, illustrating a server including an information device positioned relative to a reader for obtaining information from the information device, also illustrated are multiple stations including corresponding readers, controllers, and displays; 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration showing the general relationship between the server, information device, reader, controller, and additional devices such as an information transfer component, a heater or other sensors; 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged side elevational view showing a server positioned on a device including a reader in the form of a collar positioned relative to a portion of the server. An information device carried on the server relative to the collar; 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the partial fragmentary drawings shown in  FIG. 6  showing the server and information device positioned above a corresponding housing for covering a coil portion of the reader assembly and also including a warmer associated with the housing and coil portion, the warmer includes a plate and a heating element; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 8-1  through  8 - 6  is a schematic associated with the RFID device associated with the information device of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 9-1  through  9 - 6  is a schematic illustration of the controls associated with the system; and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 10-1  through  10 - 2  is a schematic illustration of the electrical schematic associated with the beverage system, apparatus and method of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. 
         [0015]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , disclosed is a beverage system  20  which includes a beverage maker  26  for making, dispensing, and collecting beverage for selective dispensing. The beverage system  20  includes sensing technology to sense the presence, absence, or both of a server  24  associated with the system and characteristics associated with beverage contained in the server  24 . The server  24  may be in the form of a heatable server  24   a  or an unheated server  24   b . The heatable server  24   a  might be in the form of glass server  24   a  for retaining coffee or other heated beverage. Alternatively, the unheated server  24   b  might be in the form of a thermal server which does not require any added heat to retain the heated beverage in a suitable heated condition for an acceptable period of time. 
         [0016]    The embodiment of the system  20  shown in the  FIG. 1  includes a beverage brewer  26 . For example the brewer  26  is capable of brewing coffee, tea or any other beverage. The brewer  26  includes a location  30  for placing a beverage making substance holder or funnel  28 , a water delivery system (not shown), a server, carafe, decanter or other corresponding container  24  and a position  30  for placing the server  24  relative to the funnel  28 . During a brewing cycle water is introduced into the funnel  28  for combination with and infusion of a brewing substance retained in the funnel  28  for producing a brewed beverage which is dispensed into the server  24  positioned underneath the funnel  24 . 
         [0017]    The server location  30  can include a heater  62  which controllably maintains the heat of the beverage retained in the heatable server  24   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) at a desired level. Additionally, the heater may be controllable to selectively apply heat or apply a certain level of heat. In the situation in which the server  24  is an unheated server such as a thermal carafe  24   b  (see  FIG. 3 ), it would be desirable to not apply heat to the thermal server  24   b . The reason for not applying heat to a thermal server  24   b  is, depending on the type of server, the application of heat may be detrimental to the structure and function of such a server and an unnecessary expenditure of heat energy and associated electricity. In this situation it would be desirable to be able to not heat the server  24   b  or otherwise turn off the power to prevent heating of the server. 
         [0018]    It would be desirable to provide an information vehicle device  40  and a corresponding read/write information communication device  44  to sense or otherwise detect the presence, absence, or both of a server  24  proximate to the information communication device  44 . The information vehicle device  40  will be referred to as the “information device  40 ” herein with the understanding that this is to be broadly interpreted and not limiting. The corresponding read/write information communication device  44  will be referred to as the “reader  44 ” herein with the understanding that this is to be broadly interpreted and not limiting. The information device  40  can be used to track, at least one of the characteristics of the beverage contained in the server  24  and the type of server. The ability to track the beverage would be useful in the situation in which the server  24  is removed from the first brewing device  26  and placed either at a second brewing device  50  or a warming station  54 . Additionally, once the server  24  is moved to one of the other devices  50 ,  54  it may be moved between the devices and not returned to the original brewing apparatus  26 . 
         [0019]    While the reader  44  is shown as being in a position such as the server receiving location  30 , the reader  44  may be placed otherwise on any of the corresponding apparatus to read the information device  40 . Generally, it is envisioned that the information device  40  and reader  44  may require some degree of relative proximity to provide a signal. This is due to the current limitations relating to such information devices  40  such as RFIDs. However, it is envisioned and fully within the scope of the present disclosure that other information devices and associated readers may be employed or developed which do not require relatively close proximity of the server to the reader and which may not be an RFID device. It is envisioned that such systems and devices and all existing and hereafter developed systems and devices are fully included within the scope of the present disclosure and encompassed by the present disclosure. 
         [0020]    In at least one embodiment, an information device  40  and reader  44  is provided which includes some relative proximity between the devices. Additionally, while a variety of information devices is anticipated including magnetic portions such as magnetic strips or dots, bar code readers, optically sensed components, conductive components, inductive components, an RFID device  40  and a corresponding RFID reader  44  is shown and described. The disclosure of the information device  40  as an RFID device and the reader  44  as a corresponding reader is provided by way of illustration and not limitation with all other variations of information devices and readers/writers fully encompassed within the scope of this disclosure. Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, assignee of the present application, has developed various applications of RFID technology for use with beverage apparatus, including U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,427, “Beverage Maker Interface”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Also, the information device  40  is shown as being attached to or otherwise dependent upon the server  24 . It is envisioned that the information device may be permanently affixed to, bonded to, over molded, embedded in, integrally formed as a part of, temporarily affixed to, removably carried on, or otherwise associated with the server  24 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , a collar  56 ,  56   a  (see  FIG. 2 ), and  56   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) is provided which allows the information device  40  to be generally securely retained to the server  24  and removable therefrom. The removability and secure retention of the information device  40  on the server  24  may be useful. In the event the server  24  becomes damaged or otherwise unusable, the information device  40  can be removed and attached to another server  24 . A removably attachable information device  40  also may be useful in a situation in which components are retrofitted to existing beverage preparation systems. It may be useful to remove the information device  40  for cleaning of the server  24  and then reattaching the information device after cleaning the server. Additionally, removal of the information device  40  from the server may be useful for repurposing of servers which will no longer be used with the overall system. This will allow the device  40  to be removed and redeployed to the system while reusing the server. In this situation, it may be useful or desirable to allow the device  40  to be removable without tools so as to prevent damage to the device  40  and the server. 
         [0022]    A variety of devices for retaining the information device  40  on the server and be devised. All versions of such devices are intended to be incorporated in the present application, without limitation and incorporated within the present disclosure. By way of example, the structure for retaining the information device  40  on the server  24  may be in the form of an elastic or otherwise retaining band which an be attached to the body of the server. Such a band may be in the form of an elastomeric band in which the chip has been molded in, bonded to or inserted in a pocket on the band. This allows the band to be quickly and easily recovered if the server body is broken. This provides another form of removable device  40  holder for use with the server. The band might be color coded in the coding system which is currently used for decaf and regular coffee, namely, orange and brown. This would provide another level of identification of characteristics of the beverage. 
         [0023]    During a brewing cycle, information can be transferred to the information device  40  from a read/write transfer device  44 . Alternatively, a separate transfer device  60  (see  FIG. 5 ) could be provided. Once the information is transferred to the information device  40  the information will travel with the server  24  regardless of where it is placed. The reader  44  can be provided at each location at which the server may be placed. This includes both active and passive locations. An active location may include heaters  62  (see  FIG. 5 ) or other devices  64  which may affect or detect the condition or characteristics of beverage in the server  24 . When placed at the alternate locations  50 ,  54  or even the original brewer  26  information about the beverage in the server  24  can be read from the information device  40  by means of the reader  44 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the information can be displayed on a display  70  coupled to a controller  72  associated with the corresponding apparatus  26 ,  50 ,  54 . The information displayed on the display  70  can be in any of various forms which are sensed by a user. For example while a visual display of information relating to the beverage is shown and described, it is also fully within the scope of the present disclosure to include any form of sensory feedback. Such sensory feedback may include audible signals such as acoustic or other alarms or alerts, lighted signals, vibrational signals, aroma signals as well as any other form of communication to a user which can be used to communicate information to the user such as characteristics of the beverage. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment in which a visual display is used, the display  70  may be used to display text or symbolic information relating to the characteristics of the beverage. In this regard, information such as the remaining life of the beverage, current freshness of the beverage, or any other information can be displayed. The level of the beverage could be displayed as such information may be useful when the container holding the beverage is not suitably transparent. For example in the situation in which a thermal server is used, the material may be a metal housing including a vacuum jacket. In this configuration, the other devices  64  may include a weight detector  64  or other volume detector used to communicate information to the controller  72 . 
         [0025]    The weight detector of the other devices  64  can be calibrated with a tare weight equal to the weight of a thermal server unit. When the weight sensors of the other devices  64  detect a weight, it can automatically tare the weight of the thermal server to provide a resultant weight. The resultant weight can be correlated to a corresponding weight per volume of coffee in such a server to provide a representation of the volume of coffee in the server on the display  70 . Additionally, the tare weight of the thermal server can be carried on the information device so that if a variety of thermal servers are used an accurate tare weight can be associated with each server. This tare weight can then be used by the controller to calculate a more accurate level condition report. 
         [0026]    While a heatable and thermal server  24  have been shown and illustrated throughout the drawings, it is also envisioned that a variety of servers could be used with the present system. In this regard, servers which are used by a person to pour coffee or other beverages have been shown in the illustrations for purposed of illustration and not limitation. It should be understood that the servers compensated by the present disclosure also include any form of server which might be used for a beverage. Such servers might include a larger volume generally stationary server which include a controllable faucet for dispensing beverage there from. Such servers are found in settings in which the server does not need to be moved or carried to the customer. In contrast, such a server it may be sufficient to place a server at one location for dispensing of beverage by control of the faucet to a cup or container placed there under. Such a server might be a self server dispenser such as might be found in many fast food restaurants. This type of server is described to further illustrate and encompass a variety of servers to be used with the present apparatus, system, and method. It should be understood that regardless of the type of server or, beverage container, that the systems, apparatus and methods as disclosed herein apply. 
         [0027]    For example, if a server such as a SoftHeat® server (trademark of Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, assignee of the present application) is incorporated in the present system all of the associated features may apply. Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, assignee of the present application, has developed various applications of controllable servers which it identifies as SoftHeat® technology, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,070,771; 6,089,409; and 6,139,888 and any related continuation, continuation-in-part and divisional applications which are incorporated herein by reference in the entirety. In this regard, the information device can be attached, or otherwise associated with the server. This allows the server to be placed at a brewer for filling with beverage from the brewer. The brewer can include a write device to write information to the information device. When the server is then moved away from the brewer and placed at a SoftHeat® satellite station. The SoftHeat® server is then placed at a satellite station including a least a read device. The read device can then determine the relevant information as described hereinabove. The SoftHeat® station can then control the heating of the beverage in the server or cessation of the heat to the server in relation to the information provided on the information device. 
         [0028]    The present apparatus and system provide pervasive sensing of the information device on the server  24  so that no matter the location of the server  24 , information about its contents can be provided. This may be useful in a situation in which coffee or other beverages are prepared in a kitchen and then moved to a more publicly accessible location. Such a situation may arise in a fast food service setting in which the operator wishes to control the preparation of the beverage but then provides the server for use by the customers. Similarly, in a white tablecloth restaurant beverages may be prepared in the kitchen but then presented to the wait staff in a more publicly accessible location so the wait staff does not need to travel between the kitchen and the dining area to refill beverages. The present system, apparatus and method of use will help facilitate providing information about the status of the beverage to provide a better beverage experience. 
         [0029]    In use, the server is placed for received information from at least a writing device or transfer device  60  so that the information device  40  carried on the server can receive information. The server receives beverage and the information carried on the information device  40  is relevant to the beverage. The information may be detailed information about the beverage specifically the type the characteristics as well as a time stamp for other information related to freshness characteristics of the beverage. In this regard, information carried on the information device will be read by the reader  44  and used by the corresponding controller  72  for use in control of the warmers  62 , other devices  64  and/or display  70 . 
         [0030]    The server  24  may either remain at the location  30  or may be moved to an alternate location which includes all or some of the features as described above. For example, an alternate location may only include a reader  44  and a control  72 . This allows the location to read the information device  40  and provide information to the controller  72 . This may be used with either display  70  or a heater  62  or other device  64 . Any one or all of these devices may be provided at the second location. For example, if the length of time which the server is intended to sit at a heater  62  is not relevant to the overall equation, the location might include only the other device such as a weight system  64  and a display  70  to provide a level of the beverage retained in the server. In this situation, the controller  72  might not display information on the display  70  if the server  24  is identified by the information device as being a heatable or transparent server. Alternatively, if the server is a thermal server the information device, if it carries this information, might then provide information to activate the display  70  to identify the level of condition the server. 
         [0031]    Similarly, and importantly, the location may include the heater assembly  44 . The server  24  carrying information about the characteristics of this server construction can then provide information to the controller  72  to activate or deactivate the warmer in response to the type of server. In this regard, if the server is a heatable glass server or other material server the warmer can be activated. Pre-programmed routines can be provided by the controller to control continuous or non-continuous heating patterns to provide desired heating results. Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, assignee of the present application, has developed various applications of controllable heating systems including U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/521,613, “Temperature Control System” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additionally, the controller  72  can control the warmer assembly  62  to deactivate when a predetermined time period have been reached to prevent over heating of the coffee in the server. If the server is a thermal server placement of the thermal server on a heating device will either maintain the heating device in a de-activated condition or turn off the heating device to prevent unnecessary heating of the thermal server. Deactivating of the heater or preventing activation of the heater in the presence of a thermal server not only prevents potential undesirable heating of the server; it also can be used to reduce energy costs by preventing unnecessary heating. The information device attached to the respective servers  24   a ,  24   b  may include a locked information storage area or memory section to prevent changing the identification of the type of server. Alternatively, if the information device is carried on a removable and reusable attachment structure, this area can be provided in an unlocked condition so that relevant information relating to the type of server can be written to the information device on demand. 
         [0032]    As an additional matter, the system can be programmed or otherwise adapted to differentiate the type of server material. This arises from the effect of the serving material on the information device. In this regard, an information device carried on a metal, thermal server might produce a different signal than a similar device or the same device carried on a glass server. In this regard, the metal detunes the signal from the information device. Identifying this detuned condition can be used to differentiate the devices. This can be used as a confirmation for information devices which include identification of the server or may be used as a primary source of identifying the type of server. This information can be used to control the relevant actions associated with the system or may be used as a confirmation to produce a signal to the user if the information carried on the chip in not consistent with the signal, detuned or tuned associated with the server material carrying the information device. 
         [0033]    With reference  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the server  24  is shown in a side elevational view including the information device  40  in association with a reader assembly  44 . As shown, the reader assembly  44  includes a coil portion which is carried in a housing  102 . Associated with the housing and coiled portion, depending on the application, may be a warmer plate  104  and a heating element  62  associated with the plate  104 . The plate and heating element  62  may comprise the warmer  62 . As shown in the exploded drawing of  FIG. 7  the housing  102  includes a raised area which helps to elevate a portion of the coil  100  in proximity to the information device  40 . By positioning the coil portion  100  in close proximity to the information device  40  a more accurate signal association can be sensed. The coil may either be a continuous coil placed around the perimeter of the based of the server  24  or may be a coil which is only wrapped in proximity to the location of the information  40  on the server. In this alternate embodiment, the coil might be wrapped in a continuous path and positioned along one portion of the perimeter of the server to avoid having a continuous coil around the perimeter of the server. In other words, the coil is curved along one side of the server and does not extend around the entire perimeter of the base of the server. 
         [0034]    The schematics as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10  provide additional support for the details of the operation relating to the system, method and apparatus. 
         [0035]    The system, method and apparatus of the present disclosure allows for identification and tracking of server and control of characteristics associated with the servers to provide desired information and control. This allows the system to monitor freshness of beverage dispense into a server and identify when the beverage is no long within the freshness criteria. Additionally, this allows the system to control the heating of the beverage retained in the server. While the system is referred to in the present application does not necessarily mean that the apparatus or locations associated with the system are interconnected. To the contrary, this system allows the locations to be uncoupled. While connections, either physical or wireless can be made between the various locations of the system, such connections are not necessary as the information associated with the server travel with the server on the associated information device  40 . 
         [0036]    Additionally, energy savings can be realized by providing control of the associated warmers to prevent unnecessary use of energy. In this regard, the warmers are turned off when the beverage is outside of the freshness criteria. The warmers can also be turned off when the server is removed from the warmer so that energy is not expended on a warmer which is not providing any benefit by way of transferring energy to a beverage. The system can control the warmers to time out the warmers at a predetermined period of time everyday so as to allow any beverage remaining on the system, regardless of whether it is fresh, to cost towards the end of the business. This prevents leaving warmers on and dissipating heat unnecessary at the end of the day. As described and shown, control of energy associate with the system can be optimized to only apply energy to the system when necessary. 
         [0037]    While this disclosure has been described as having an exemplary embodiment, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations using its general principles. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains.