Patent Publication Number: US-2013247769-A1

Title: Ergonomic user-interface for motorised ingredient chamber

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention pertains to beverage preparation machines, in particular using capsules of an ingredient of the beverage to be prepared, such as beverage preparation machines having a motorized ingredient chamber that can be opened and closed for inserting a beverage ingredient into the chamber and/or removal of a used ingredient therefrom. 
     For the purpose of the present description, a “beverage” is meant to include any human-consumable liquid substance, such as tea, coffee, hot or cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc. . . . A “capsule” is meant to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredient, such as a flavouring ingredient, within an enclosing packaging of any material, in particular an airtight packaging, e.g. plastic, aluminium, recyclable and/or biodegradable packagings, and of any shape and structure, including soft pods or rigid cartridges containing the ingredient. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or to be dissolved and/or ingredients that are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or else are added at the time of preparation of the drink. 
     Some beverage machines possess filling means that include a pump for liquid, usually water, which pumps the liquid from a source of water that is cold or indeed heated through heating means, such as a heating resistor, a thermoblock or the like. 
     For allowing the user to interact with such machines, for providing operation instructions to the machine or obtaining feed-back therefrom, various systems have been disclosed in the art, for instance as mentioned in the following references: AT 410 377, CH 682 798, DE 44 29 353, DE 10 2005 057 166, DE 20 2005 002 814, DE 20 2006 019 039, EP 1 448 084, EP 1 676 509, EP 1 707 088, EP 08 155 851.2, FR 2 624 844, FR 2 858 713, GB 2 240 206, GB 2 397 510, GB 2 240 206, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,385, U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,049, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,735, U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,419, U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,632, U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,697, U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,020, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,705, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,061, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,508, U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,230, U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,981, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,236, U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,553, U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,869, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,555, U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,341, U.S. Pat. No. 6,759,072, U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,603, U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,050, U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,660, U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,455, US 2007/0157820, WO 97/25634, WO 99/50172, WO 03/037151, WO 03/039309, WO 2004/030435, WO 2004/030438, WO 2006/063645, WO 2006/082064, WO 2006/090183, WO 2007/003062, WO 2007/003990, WO 2008/104751, WO 2008/138710 and WO 2008/138820. 
     Especially in the field of coffee machines, machines have been widely developed in which a capsule containing beverage ingredients is inserted in a brewing device. The brewing device is tightly closed about the capsule, water is injected at the first face of the capsule, the beverage is produced in the closed volume of the capsule and a brewed beverage can be drained from a second face of the capsule and collected into a receptacle such as a cup or glass. 
     Brewing devices have been developed to facilitate insertion of a “fresh” capsule and removal the capsule upon use. 
     WO 2005/004683 and WO 2007/135136 relate to such brewing devices. The devices comprise a frame, a fixed holding part for the capsule, a movable holding part which is mounted relative to the frame in a sliding relationship, one or two knuckle joint mechanisms that provide a mechanical system which enables to close in a steady and fluid-tight manner the holding parts about the capsule. During beverage preparation, the system is while configured to resist to a counter-force acting in re-opening which forces is generated by the internal brewing pressure. The system further includes a handle for directly levering the knuckle joint mechanism. Such a device forms a simple assembly enabling insertion of the capsule by vertical fall through a passage in the frame and removal of the used capsule in the same direction as the insertion direction. 
     From a different approach, the actuation of the movable part of the brewing device may be motorized. Such a system is for example disclosed in EP 1 767 129. In this case, the user does not have to provide any manual effort to open or close the brewing device. A motor automatically opens and closes the device upon actuation of an appropriate switch, e.g. by a user. 
     Whereas the motorization of the brewing device relieves the user of providing the opening or closing effort of the brewing device, it is also linked with a loss of control by the user of the closure and opening process of the brewing device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred object of the invention is to provide a beverage machine that alleviates at least some of the abovementioned problems. 
     The invention relates to a machine for preparing and dispensing a beverage. For instance, the machine is a coffee, tea, chocolate, cacao, milk or soup preparation machine. In particular, the machine is arranged for preparing within a beverage processing module a beverage by passing hot or cold water or another liquid through a capsule containing an ingredient, such as a flavouring ingredient, of the beverage to be prepared, such as ground coffee or tea or chocolate or cacao or milk powder. 
     Such beverage preparation typically includes the mixing of a plurality of beverage ingredients, e.g. water and milk powder, and/or the infusion of a beverage ingredient, such as an infusion of ground coffee or tea with water. For instance, a predetermined amount of beverage is formed and dispensed on user-request, which corresponds to a serving. The volume of such a serving may be in the range of 25 to 200 ml, e.g. the volume for filling a cup or mug, depending on the type of beverage. Formed and dispensed beverages may be selected from ristrettos, espressos, lungos, cappuccinos, café latte, americano coffees, teas, etc. . . . In particular, a coffee machine may be configured for dispensing espressos, e.g. an adjustable volume of 20 to 60 ml per serving, and/or for dispensing lungos, e.g. a volume in the range of 70 to 150 ml per serving. 
     In particular, the beverage preparation machine has:
         an ingredient processing module that comprises a first part and a second part movable relative to the first part from a position for processing therein an ingredient for forming a beverage to a transfer position for inserting this ingredient into the processing module and/or for evacuation of the ingredient from the processing module;   a motor means for relatively moving the first and second parts between the processing position and the transfer position, such as at least one electric, pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator;   a control unit for controlling the motor means to relatively move the first and second parts, such as an electric circuit including a controller or processor arranged to adjust a power supply to the motor means; and   a user-interface connected to the control unit for sensing a user-request to relatively move the first and second parts via the controlled motor means.       

     Hence, these movable parts of the processing module are moved automatically by a motor means, e.g. as for instance taught in the abovementioned EP 1 767 129, and move at the request of a user operating appropriately the user-interface, e.g. by pushing a push-button. 
     In accordance with the invention, the user-interface is configured to detect a direction and extent of displacement of an object in a user-input area, this area being typically on or adjacent the user-interface and/or generally coextensive therewith. The detecting may require a contact between the object and the user-interface or may be contactless. The control unit is configured to control the motor means so as to relatively move the first and second parts towards the transfer position or towards the processing position according to the detected direction and extent of movement of the above object. 
     This object may be of a body part of a user, such as a finger or portion of a hand, or a tool held by a user, such as a stylus or pen or kitchen tool, e.g. a tea or coffee spoon. 
     Hence, the mechanical effort to drive together or apart these parts is not borne by a user but borne at least in part by a motor means of the machine. In particular, variations of the required force during opening and/or closure can be absorbed by such a motor means to increase the ergonomics of the machine. Moreover, to improve further the ergonomics of state of such a machine and provide an optimal feeling of control of the displacement of the movable parts between the transfer and processing positions, displacements of an object such as a user-hand or a part thereof, is detected by the user-interface and translated into a corresponding displacement of the movable parts. In particular, the progressive displacement of the relatively movable parts is aligned to the progressive displacement of the object spatially detected on the user-interface and preferably communicated, directly or indirectly via an appropriate feed-back means such as a series of LEDs or an interface screen or a mechanical indicator or a loudspeaker, to the user, in particular in a visible and/or audible manner. Hence, the effort required by a user is minimised while providing full control to the user over the movement of the movable part(s). 
     The user-interface typically includes a sensing arrangement for detecting the displacement of the object thereon, the sensing arrangement comprising at least one of a capacitive-based, light-based, ultrasonic-based, inductive-based, resistive-based and pressure-based sensor. For instance, a series of capacities, light emitters and receivers, and/or piezoelectric components may be used to sense a position in time, and thus the displacement, of an object in the user-input area. 
     The user-interface may be configured so as to detect a linear direction. Typically, the user-input area is arranged to extend along a straight line. 
     The user-interface can be configured so as to detect an arched direction. Normally, the user-input area is arranged to extend along an arched line. 
     It is also contemplated to configure the user-interface for detecting a linear and an arched direction, e.g. in particular when the relatively movable parts are arranged to move along linear and arched paths. 
     The first and second parts can be relatively movable by the motor means in a linear and/or arched direction. 
     In an embodiment, a relative motion of the first and second parts is user-visible from outside the machine, typically by a user operating the beverage machine. The user may directly see the movable first and/or second part and/or may perceive the motion via an indicator, e.g. a movable mechanical element or changing electric light or audible signal linked to the motion of the first and/or second part. 
     In an embodiment, the machine has an ingredient feed channel for supplying from outside said ingredient into the ingredient processing module. For instance, the ingredient is supplied within a capsule via the channel into the processing module. The feed channel may be associated with a gate member that is actuated by the motor means to open and close the feed channel when the first and second parts are moved into the transfer and processing positions, respectively. The gate member and the relatively movable first and second parts may be actuated by the same motor or by two or more coordinated motors. Opening and closing of the ingredient feed channel by the motorised gate member may be visible by a user from outside the beverage machine, e.g. while operating the machine to prepare a beverage. 
     The gate member can be arranged to be moved in a direction that is identical to a direction of motion of one of these first and second parts. Alternatively, the gate member may be arranged to be moved in a direction that is opposite to a direction of motion of one of these first and second parts. 
     Typically, the beverage preparation machine comprises a stationary structure, such as a housing and/or a frame. The structure may be arranged to rest on a support surface such as a table. The second part can be made movable by the motor relative to the first part and relative to the stationary structure. The first part may be stationary relative to the stationary structure or movable thereto. 
     The second part can be arranged to move in a direction, in particular an arched and/or linear direction, that is generally identical or opposite to the detected direction of the object moving on the user-interface. 
     Typically, the first and second parts in their processing position delimit a cavity for housing the beverage ingredient, such as tea or coffee or chocolate or powder milk. The ingredient processing module may include an upstream fluid circuit for delivering a carrier liquid, such as water, into the cavity and a downstream fluid circuit having a beverage outlet for delivering from the cavity the beverage formed by the carrier liquid flavoured by the beverage (flavouring) ingredient, the ingredient being in particular inserted into the cavity within a capsule. 
     The ingredient processing module can be configured to circulate automatically this carrier liquid into the cavity containing the ingredient when the first and second parts reach the processing position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  show part of a beverage machine having an ingredient processing module, a motor means, a control unit and a user-interface according to the invention; and 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a  illustrate the motorization of a movable part of the processing module shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 2   a  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a beverage preparation machine  1  in accordance with the invention. 
     Machine  1  has an ingredient processing module  10  that comprises a first part  20  and a second part  30  movable relative to first part  20  from a position ( FIG. 2 ) for processing therein an ingredient for forming a beverage to a transfer position ( FIG. 1 ) for inserting such ingredient into processing module  10  and/or for evacuation thereof from the processing module. Such ingredient is typically a flavouring ingredient. 
     For example, first part  20  can be more or less fixed in a structure  100 , e.g. frame or housing, of machine  1  and second part  30  may be driven to and away from first part  20  between the transfer and the processing positions. 
     In particular, second part  30  can be movable and has an opening  30 ′ that may slide over first part  20 . Lateral support elements  33  are provided for guiding second part  30  in slots  101  of structure  100 . 
     First part  20  defines a chamber  21  and second part  30  has a member  31 , e.g. generally shaped as a plate. Chamber  21  and member  31  are spaced apart in  FIG. 1  for receiving and/or evacuating an ingredient therebetween. Chamber  21  and member  31  are brought together in  FIG. 2  for delimiting an inner ingredient processing cavity for holding the ingredient, such as tea or coffee or chocolate or powder milk. The ingredient may be inserted pre-portioned within a capsule into this cavity. 
     Typically, first and second parts  20 , 30  in their processing position can be arranged for mixing liquid, such as an incoming flow of hot water, with a flavouring ingredient, e.g. coffee or tea, to form a flavoured beverage. The flavouring ingredient may in particular be supplied as a solid, e.g. ground coffee, tea leaves, powder milk, etc. . . . 
     In a particular embodiment, first and second parts  20 , 30  form a brewing unit, e.g. of a tea or coffee machine. The flavouring ingredient may be supplied within a capsule into the brewing unit. The interaction between the brewing unit and the flavouring ingredient, when provided within a capsule, may be of the type disclosed in EP 1 859 714 or in EP 2 205 133. 
     Parts  20 , 30  in their processing position may be arranged for holding a pre-portioned flavouring ingredient supplied within a capsule while liquid is circulated therethrough to form a beverage. Such a flavouring capsule may have a cup-shaped body with a rim for fixing a lid thereon. The Body is configured for containing a pre-portioned amount of flavouring ingredient. 
     When closed capsules of flavouring ingredients are used, first and second parts  20 , 30   10  may include a capsule opener such as blades and/or a tearing tool, e.g. a plate with a tearing profile, for instance as known form Nespresso™ machines. 
     In particular, processing module  10  includes an upstream fluid arrangement, e.g. incorporating a liquid driver, such as a pump, and a thermal conditioner, such as a heater, for circulating thermally conditioned liquid, such as water, from a source, e.g. a liquid reservoir, into the ingredient processing cavity. Examples of upstream fluid arrangements are disclosed in WO 2009/074550 and in WO 2009/130099. 
     Moreover, processing module  10  comprises a downstream fluid arrangement with an outlet member  40  (in dotted lines in  FIG. 2 ) for dispensing to an area for dispensing beverage to a user, e.g. an area for placing a user-cup or a user-mug, the beverage formed in the cavity containing the ingredient mixed with the circulating liquid. The dispensing area may be delimited at the bottom by a support surface for holding a user cup or mug. Such support surfaces are well known in the art, e.g. as disclosed in EP 1 867 260 and WO 2009/074557. 
     Outlet member  40  is in fluid communication with the ingredient processing cavity, downstream thereof, via liquid guide member  32 . Guide member  32  can be fixed to movable part  30 . 
     Machine  1  may have a collector receptacle (not shown) for collecting used ingredients, such as tea leaves or ground coffee, e.g. within used capsules, and waste liquid. The collector receptacle, e.g. waste collector, may be located in a lower part  102  of structure  100  of machine  1  and have an upper compartment for solids and a lower compartment for liquids. Collector receptacle may be insertable, e.g. slidable, into a cavity formed in the machine and removable therefrom for servicing, e.g. emptying the solids and/or liquids contained therein. For example, the storage capacity of the collector receptacle for accumulating used ingredient may be aligned to the storage capacity of reservoir for the supply of liquid such as water, e.g. as taught in PCT/EP10/056,194. 
     Furthermore, processing module  10  can include a drop evacuation member  41  (in dotted lines in  FIG. 1 ) for collecting residual drops in the downstream fluid arrangement when the machine is not expected to dispense a beverage; typically when processing module  10  is in the transfer position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Evacuation member  41  is configured to be in fluid configuration with liquid guide member  32  and arranged to evacuated liquid therefrom into a service unit located inside machine  1  generally underneath processing module  10 . For example, the service unit is of the type of the above discussed collector receptacle. 
     The collector receptacle can be positioned underneath parts  20 , 30  to collect upon beverage preparation the used flavouring ingredient, e.g. ground coffee or tea, evacuated to the receptacle via an ingredient evacuation passage  96 , e.g. by gravity. The receptacle typically has an anti-clogging arrangement, as for example taught in WO 2009/074559 and in WO 2009/135869, which are hereby incorporated by way of reference. 
     Ingredient processing module  10  can be configured to circulate automatically the liquid into the cavity containing the ingredient, optionally within a capsule, when first and second parts  20 , 30  reach the processing position. An automatic ingredient recognition system may be used to parameterize the processing of the ingredient. 
     Beverage machine  1  typically includes one or more of the following components:
         a) Processing module  10 , e.g. a fluid circuit including a brewing unit, delimiting in the processing position an inner flavouring chamber for receiving an ingredient of the beverage such as a flavouring ingredient, in particular a pre-portioned ingredient supplied within a capsule, and for guiding via an inlet an incoming flow of liquid for flavouring thereof, such as water, through this ingredient to a beverage outlet;   b) an in-line heater for heating this flow of liquid to be supplied to the ingredient;   c) a pump for pumping liquid through the in-line heater;   d) one or more fluid connecting members for guiding liquid from a source of liquid, such as tank of liquid;   e) an electric control unit, in particular comprising a printed circuit board (PCB), for receiving instructions from a user via an input user-interface and for controlling the in-line heater and the pump; and/or   f) one or more sensors for sensing at least one characteristic selected from characteristics of processing module  10 , the in-line heater, the pump, liquid tank, an ingredient collector, a flow of the liquid (e.g. by a flowmeter), a pressure of the liquid and a temperature of the liquid, and for communicating such characteristic(s) to the control unit.       

     The heater may be a thermoblock or an on demand heater (ODH), for instance an ODH type disclosed in EP 1 253 844, EP 1 380 243 and EP 1 809 151. Examples of suitable brewing units and capsule management are for example disclosed in WO 2005/004683, WO2007/135136 and WO 2009/043630, which are hereby incorporated by way of reference. Suitable fluid circuits of beverage preparation modules are for instance disclosed in WO 2009/074550 and WO 2009/130099, which are hereby incorporated by way of reference. 
     Furthermore, machine  1  includes a motor means  50  for relatively moving first and second parts  20 , 30  from the processing position ( FIG. 2 ) to the transfer position  FIG. 1 ) and/or vice versa. Motor means  50  comprises an electric motor  51  and a mechanical converter  52  for converting movements from motor  51  into relative movements between first and second parts  20 , 30 . 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a  illustrate motor  51  and converter  52  driving downstream part  30  from the transfer position ( FIG. 1   a ) to the processing position ( FIG. 2   a ). 
     In particular, mechanical converter  52  may include a gear, e.g. toothed gear, and/or cam arrangement. For instance, converter  52  includes a toothed wheel  521  that engages with a worm gear  511  formed on the rotating drive axis of motor  51 . Toothed wheel  521  is fixed via rod  522  to a pair of transmission toothed wheels  523 . Latter wheels  523  engage with corresponding toothed wheels  524 , e.g. wheel sectors, that bear each a cam-follower  525  for cooperation with a cam  35  of movable second part  30  of processing module  10 . Wheels  524  are pivotally mounted via a pivoting axis  526  on a frame or housing or another part of machine  1 , such as onto part  20  of processing module  10 . Likewise, rod  522  may be pivotally mounted on such a frame or housing  100  or another part of machine  10 , e.g. part  20 . 
     Furthermore, machine  1  has a control unit  60  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) for controlling motor means  50  to relatively move first and second parts  20 , 30 . Typically, control unit  60 , e.g. a printed circuit board (PCB) with a controller or processor and memory device etc. . . . , is electrically connected to an interface  61  for controlling the electric powering of motor  51  via an appropriate electric connection  62 . 
     Machine  1  also includes a user-interface  80  connected to control unit  60 , e.g. via an appropriate electric connection  63 . User-interface  80  is arranged for sensing a user-request to relatively move first and second parts  20 , 30  by motor means  50  controlled by control unit  60 . 
     In accordance with the invention, user-interface  80  is configured to detect a direction  81 , 82  and extent of displacement of an object  3  in a user-input area  80 ′. Object  3  may be a finger of a user&#39;s hand  2 . Alternatively, the object may be a hand-held tool, such as a stylus or pen. Control unit  60  is configured to control motor means  50  so as to relatively move first and second parts  20 , 30  towards the transfer position or towards the processing position according to the detected direction and extent of displacement of object  3  in user-input area  80 ′. 
     Typically, motor means  50  are arranged to relatively move parts  20 , 30  in real time, namely without any delay noticeable by a user between the displacement of object  3  over area  80 ′ and the relative movement between parts  20 , 30  of processing module  10 . 
     Advantageously, motor means  50  are arranged to relatively move parts  20 , 30  to an extent between the transfer and processing positions proportional to the detected extent of displacement of object  3  across user-input area  80 ′. For example, when object  3  is displaced over ⅓ or ⅔ of area  80 ′, parts  20 , 30  are moved together or apart over a distance corresponding to ⅓ or ⅔ of the distance of the movement parts  20 , 30  from the transfer position to the processing position. A safety arrangement such as a mechanical and/or electronically programmed abutment may be provided so that parts  20 , 30  are not moved beyond the transfer or the processing position. 
     To increase the intuitive user-control of the relative movements between parts  20 , 30 , these movements and the displacement of object  3  may be parallel. 
     Hence, a user will intuitively associate the displacement of object  3  with the relative movement of parts  20 , 30 . 
     Typically, user-interface  80  comprises a sensing arrangement for detecting displacement of object  3 . For example, the sensing arrangement comprises at least one of a capacitive-based, light-based, ultrasonic-based, inductive-based, resistive-based and pressure-based sensor. Such arrangements are known, for instance, in connection with touch screens or touch pads or recognition systems. 
     User-interface  80  is typically configured so as to detect a linear direction  81 , 82 . Alternatively, a user-interface can be configured to detect an arched direction, in particular when the relatively movable parts of processing the module exhibit an arched movement between the processing and the transfer positions, e.g. a movement of the type disclosed in EP 1 090 574. 
     In the particular example illustrated in the appended Figures, first and second parts  20 , 30  are relatively movable by motor means  50  in a linear direction, namely in a straight direction. Alternatively, the first and second parts can be relatively movable by the motor means in an arched direction, or in an arched and linear direction, e.g. sequentially arched and then linear and/or vice versa. 
     To improve the ergonomics of the machine, relative motion of first and second parts  20 , 30  can be made user-visible from outside machine  1 . User-visibility may be direct, i.e. a user can see from outside the machine relative motion of parts  20 , 30 , or indirect, i.e a user can see from outside the machine an indicator representative of this relative motion. For instance, such a user-visible indicator can be formed by a gate member, such as a cover  90 , for covering and uncovering a passage  95  for inserting an ingredient into processing module  10 . Gate member  90  may be actuated by motor means  50 , e.g. by motor  50  or a further motor preferably coordinated with motor  50 . Hence, gate member  90  can be actuated by motor means  50  to open and close passage  95  when first and second parts  20 , 30  are moved into the transfer and processing positions, respectively. Passage  95  may have the shape of a capsule in cross-section containing the ingredient that is supplied into processing module  10 , e.g. a capsule of the type disclosed in EP 1 839 543. 
     Gate member  90  can be arranged to be moved in a direction that is opposite to the direction of motion of movable part  30  of processing module  10 . Alternatively, the two directions may be generally identical. 
     In particular, gate member  90  can be arranged to be moved in a direction that is identical to the detected direction  81 , 82  of object  3 . 
     Typically, machine  1  has a stationary structure  100 , such as a housing and/or a frame, the second part  30  being movable by motor means  50  relative to the first part and relative to the stationary structure. The first part may include a fixed structure  25 , in particular including a hydraulic cylinder, and a secondary structure  26 , such as a hydraulic piston member including an ingredient or capsule cage. Secondary structure  26  may be slightly movable relative to fixed structure  25 , for example to adjust the closing distance between first and second relatively movable parts  20 , 30 , e.g. to ensure proper handling of an ingredient/capsule inserted therebetween. Examples of such hydraulic positioning are for instance disclosed in EP 2 142 054. 
     Movable part  30  can be arranged to move in a direction  35 , 36  that is generally opposite to detected direction  81 , 82 . Alternatively the directions may be generally identical.