Apparatus with cartridges for the preparation of drinks, with activation following the reading of an optical code carried by the cartridge
First Claim
1. Apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks at the choice of a user from cartridges specific to each drink that are inserted by the user in the apparatus, in particular of the type in which a cartridge is provided with an optical code on one of its faces identifying the cartridge itself and the corresponding drink, said apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge path, extending between an insertion mouth for a new cartridge and a discharge mouth for a used cartridge, a reading station of the optical code of the inserted cartridge, such a reading station being arranged in the cartridge path, a reading window facing the reading station, a reader acting on the reading station through the reading window, for reading the code of the cartridge in the reading station, a controller, connected to said reader, for the activation of an operating cycle for the preparation of the drink corresponding to the cartridge, and a positioning arrangement of the cartridge in the reading station, wherein said positioning arrangement comprises;
an abutment plane, at least one stretching member of at least one portion of the face of the cartridge containing the optical code, said stretching member projecting with respect to the abutment plane, said positioning arrangement of the cartridge being such as to press the cartridge on the abutment plane, with the optical code arranged facing the reading window and with said at least one stretching member acting with a thrust on the face of the cartridge, to deform the portion of face of the cartridge containing the code, extending it substantially uniformly and arranging it in a predetermined position, facing said reading window.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks from cartridges that are provided with an optical code on one of its faces identifying the cartridge itself and the corresponding drink, the reading of the optical code is made more certain and reliable thanks to a stretching member that extends the portion of the face of the cartridge containing the optical code, so as to deform it into a predetermined position, facing the reading window.
30 Citations
33 Claims
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1. Apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks at the choice of a user from cartridges specific to each drink that are inserted by the user in the apparatus, in particular of the type in which a cartridge is provided with an optical code on one of its faces identifying the cartridge itself and the corresponding drink, said apparatus comprising:
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a cartridge path, extending between an insertion mouth for a new cartridge and a discharge mouth for a used cartridge, a reading station of the optical code of the inserted cartridge, such a reading station being arranged in the cartridge path, a reading window facing the reading station, a reader acting on the reading station through the reading window, for reading the code of the cartridge in the reading station, a controller, connected to said reader, for the activation of an operating cycle for the preparation of the drink corresponding to the cartridge, and a positioning arrangement of the cartridge in the reading station, wherein said positioning arrangement comprises;
an abutment plane, at least one stretching member of at least one portion of the face of the cartridge containing the optical code, said stretching member projecting with respect to the abutment plane, said positioning arrangement of the cartridge being such as to press the cartridge on the abutment plane, with the optical code arranged facing the reading window and with said at least one stretching member acting with a thrust on the face of the cartridge, to deform the portion of face of the cartridge containing the code, extending it substantially uniformly and arranging it in a predetermined position, facing said reading window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 28, 29, 30)
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19. Apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks at the choice of a user from cartridges specific to each drink that are inserted by the user in the apparatus, in particular of the type in which a cartridge is provided with an optical code on one of its faces identifying the cartridge itself and the corresponding drink, said apparatus comprising:
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a cartridge path, extending between an insertion mouth for a new cartridge and a discharge mouth for a used cartridge, a reading station of the optical code of the inserted cartridge, such a reading station being arranged in the cartridge path, a reading window facing the reading station, a reader acting on the reading station through the reading window, for reading the code of the cartridge in the reading station, a controller, connected to said reader, for the activation of an operating cycle for the preparation of the drink corresponding to the cartridge, and a positioning arrangement of the cartridge in the reading station comprising an abutment plane against which the cartridge rests, wherein said reading window projects from the abutment plane in the reading station. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification