Machine-readable identifier on a portion package, which contains ground coffee, for espresso machines

• US 20040089158A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eugster/Frismag AG, Gotthard Mahlich
• Original Assignee: Eugster/Frismag AG, Gotthard Mahlich
• Inventors: Mahlich, Gotthard
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3623 Cartridges being employed with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3642 Cartridge magazines therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8055 Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8058 Coding means for the contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06168 the marking being a concentric barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1421 Circular bar codes

Abstract

A machine readable identification on a single-serving unit containing coffee powder for espresso machines, designed so that it can be read easily and accurately, is structured in a rotation-symmetrical manner and is applied to an essentially level surface of the single-serving unit, whereby the single-serving unit preferably consists of a single-serving capsule (1) having an essentially circular base (2) whereupon the identification is applied in a coaxial manner.

Claims

1. Machine readable identification on a single-serving unit containing coffee powder for espresso machines,

characterised by the fact that the identification is rotation-symmetrical and is located on a mainly level surface of the single-serving unit.

2. Machine readable identification according to claim 1,

characterised by the fact that the single-serving unit is essentially rotation-symmetrical around a symmetrical axis (1a, 5a), whereby the identification is positioned in a rotation-symmetrical manner around the symmetrical axis as well.

3. Machine readable identification according to claim 1 or 2,

characterised by the fact that the identification comprises an ID code consisting of concentric circles.

4. Machine readable identification according to claims 1 and 2 and/or 3, characterised by the fact that the single-serving unit is a single-serving capsule (1) with an essentially circular base (2) whereupon the identification is applied in a coaxial manner.

5. Machine readable identification according to claims 1 and 2 and/or 3, characterised by the fact that the single-serving unit is an essentially lozenge-shaped pouch (5) with an upper (8) and a lower (7) surface, each of which is provided with the identification that is applied in a coaxial manner.

6. System for the registration of a machine readable identification on a single-serving unit containing coffee powder, especially a single-serving capsule, according to one or several of claims 1 to 5,

characterised by the fact that the system includes a registration device with at least one reading head (27) able to read in a linear manner.

7. System according to claims 1 to 4 and 6,

characterised by the fact that the system includes a magazine unit (10) with several magazine tubes (12 to 16) each intended to hold single-serving capsules (1) containing various types of coffee powder, and that the reading head (27) able to read in a linear manner is positioned below the magazine tubes (12 to 16) and is directed upwards, towards a plane where the bases (2) of the single-serving units (1) are located inside the magazine tubes (12 to 16) in such a way that the identifications can be read in a linear manner.

8. System according to claim 7,

characterised by the fact that the magazine tubes (12 to 16) are located on a carrier and can each be conveyed, as selected, together with the carrier to a dispensing position (18), and that the carrier is provided with transparent sections located below each magazine tube (12 to 16) for scanning the base (2) of the single-serving capsule (1).

9. System according to claim 1,

characterised by the fact that for all magazine tubes (12 to 16) only one scanning head

(27) is provided at a reading station that is located in front of the dispensing station

(18) at a path of movement of those sections of the carrier able to move together with the carrier that are transparent I order to read the identifications.

10. System according to at least one of the claims 5 to 9,

characterised by the fact that the magazine tubes (12 to 16) are arranged in an essentially circular manner on a turntable (11) serving as carrier and that a Maltese-cross-type drive mechanism (20) is positioned below the turntable (11) whereby the drive mechanism (20) is connected to the turntable (11) via an actuation connection.

11. System according to one or several of the claims 5 to 10,

characterised by the fact that adjustment of the carrier or turntable (11) can be controlled via the registration device.

12. Testing procedure for a machine readable identification on a single-serving unit according to claims 1 to 3 and also 4 or 5, if applicable, within a system according to claims 6 to 9,

characterised by the fact that the ID code (3) consisting of concentric circles is essentially read in a linear manner across its greatest diameter formed by a first radius (r₁) and a second radius (r₂), and that the identification read across the first radius (r₁) is compared with the identification read across the second radius (r₂).