Beverage machine with an ergonomic user-interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116355-B2
Application number	US-201615757029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Sep 4, 2015
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2) comprises: —a main body (10) containing a unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for preparing said beverage (2) to be dispensed via an outlet (21) to an external user-recipient (3) at a user-recipient placement location (30); —an auxiliary body (20) that is movable relative to the main body (10) inwards into the main body (10) into a retracted position and outwards from the main body (10) into a deployed position; —a control unit (16) for controlling the preparation unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) to supply said beverage (2) to the outlet (21); and—a user-interlace (17, 17′) connected to the control unit (16). The user-interface (17, 17′) is located on the auxiliary body (20) and is movable therewith.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for preparing and dispensing a beverage, the machine comprising:
a main housing containing a beverage preparation unit for preparing the beverage to be dispensed via an outlet to an external user-recipient at a user-recipient placement location;
an auxiliary housing that is movable relative to the main housing inwards into the main housing into a retracted position and outwards from the main housing into a deployed position;
a control unit configured for controlling the beverage preparation unit to supply the beverage to the outlet;
a user-interface connected to the control unit; and
the user-interface is located on the auxiliary housing, and the machine has at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the user-interface is movable with the auxiliary housing in the same direction relative to the main housing as movement of the auxiliary housing relative to the main housing, and (ii) the user-interface is movable with the auxiliary housing while maintaining the same position of the user-interface relative to the auxiliary housing.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the user-interface comprises an apparent user-interface that is accessible to a user when the auxiliary housing is in the deployed position and that remains accessible to a user when the auxiliary housing is in its retracted position.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the user-interface comprises a retractable user-interface that is:
retracted in the main housing when the auxiliary housing is in the retracted position; and
deployed out of the main housing when the auxiliary housing is in the deployed position,
so that the retractable user-interface is accessible to a user when the auxiliary housing is in the deployed position and inaccessible to a user when the auxiliary housing is in the retracted position.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary housing forms the beverage dispensing head, and wherein the control unit is further configured to:
maintain or leave the beverage dispensing head in the retracted position when the beverage preparation unit is not operated to process a liquid; and/or
move the beverage dispensing head into the deployed position or maintain or leave the beverage dispensing head in this position only when the control unit operates the beverage preparation unit to process a liquid for dispensing via the outlet.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary housing forms the beverage dispensing head, and wherein the control unit is configured to operate the beverage preparation unit to:
service the beverage preparation unit when the beverage dispensing head is in the deployed position; and/or
evacuate residual beverage when the beverage dispensing head is in the deployed position or the retracted position.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary housing forms the beverage dispensing head, and wherein the beverage dispensing head is moved into the retracted position in an instance selected from the group consisting of:
immediately at the end of servicing the beverage preparation unit the beverage dispensing head is moved into its retracted position;
immediately at the end of preparing a portion of beverage by the beverage preparation unit the beverage dispensing head is moved into its retracted position; and
in the absence of a detection by a sensor connected to the control unit of a user-recipient in the placement location the beverage dispensing head is moved into its retracted position.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary housing forms the beverage dispensing head and wherein the beverage dispensing head is moved into the deployed position:
on a user-request; and/or
on a detection by a sensor connected to the control unit of a user-recipient in the placement location.

8. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the beverage preparation unit has an ingredient mixing module which comprises a first part and a second part that are relatively movable between a mixing position for mixing ingredients and a transfer position for inserting an ingredient and/or removing waste from the mixing module.

9. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary housing forms the beverage dispensing head, and wherein the beverage dispensing head is mechanically connected or linked to one of the first and second parts.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the beverage dispensing head and the one of the first and second parts are mechanically disconnectable from each other.

11. The machine of claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the beverage dispensing head in the retracted position from the one of the first and second parts to relatively move the first and second parts into the mixing position.

12. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the main housing has a transfer channel configured for supplying an ingredient to the mixing module.

13. The machine of claim 12 , which comprises a capsule loader associated with the transfer channel for loading a capsule,
the capsule loader having:
a capsule holding configuration for holding a capsule away from the mixing module; and
a capsule releasing configuration for releasing the capsule in or into the transfer channel towards the mixing module.

14. The machine of claim 1 , which has a directing fluid guide upstream from the outlet and downstream from the beverage preparation unit, the directing guide being configured to direct residual liquid from the beverage preparation unit to a waste collector when the beverage preparation unit is not operated to process a beverage.

15. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary housing is configured to:
translate along a straight direction from the retracted position into the deployed position and vice versa; and/or
move inwards into an outside housing or frame of the main housing into the retracted position and outwards of the outside housing or frame into the deployed position.

16. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the user-interface is configured to receive user instructions from a user and provide the user instructions from the user to the control unit.

17. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the user-interface is configured to receive the user instructions when the auxiliary housing is in the retracted position.

18. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the user-interface is configured to receive the user instructions when the auxiliary housing is in the deployed position.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa
• Nestle Sa

Inventors

• Branko Lukic
• Crozier Etienne
• Guyon Bertrand
• Obliger Nicolas
• Ryutaro Takayama Steven
• Thuliez Jean-Luc

Classifications

• Y02W90/10

  Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics · CPC title

• A47J31/4403 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• A47J31/46 Primary

  Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices · CPC title

• A47J31/5255

  of flow rate · CPC title

• A47J31/3633

  Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position · CPC title