Apparatus with cartridges for the preparation of drinks, with activation following the reading of an optical code carried by the cartridge

• US 7,513,412 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A.
• Inventors: Benedetti, Michele, Bianchi, Maurizio, Bottazzi, Davide
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/121,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20050249052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/383, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2031/0694 with indicating means to aid the measurement of ground coffee contained therein
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3623 Cartridges being employed with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge

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.

Claims

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 having at least one face is provided with an optical code on one of said at least one face identifying the cartridge 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, said 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 configured 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 the portion of face of the cartridge substantially uniformly and arranging the portion of face of the cartridge in a predetermined position, facing said reading window.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stretching member is the reading window, said optical code being suitable for being arranged facing the reading window in contact with the reading window.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading window is flat and arranged according to a reading plane tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to the abutment plane.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, where in the predetermined angle is between 0 and 30°

.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading window is flat and arranged according to a reading plane parallel to the abutment plane and raised with respect to the abutment plane.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading window is convex.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading window is closed by a panel made from transparent material.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading window is closed by a panel made from a material with a predetermined degree of opaqueness to obtain a diffusing effect.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading window is open.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said reading window has smooth edges.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one stretching member comprises at least one shaped appendix that extends from said abutment plane.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said at least one shaped appendix extends from said abutment plane near to the perimetric zone of said reading window.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a thruster, acting on the cartridge so that the thruster presses the cartridge against said at least one stretching member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said thruster and said abutment plane are mutually mobile between an open position, in which said thruster and said abutment plane are sufficiently spaced apart as to allow the cartridge to pass between the thruster and the abutment plane, and a closed position, in which said thruster thrusts towards the abutment plane so as to lock the cartridge between the thruster and the abutment plane.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said thruster and said abutment plane are fixed together, defining an air space in which a cartridge can be inserted and inside of which the portion of face of the cartridge with the optical code is pressed on said at least one stretching member.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reader is active to read the optical code on the cartridge in the reading station only when the positioning arrangement presses the face of the cartridge with the optical code against said at least one stretching member.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge path comprises a drink preparation and dispensing station coinciding with the reading station, and wherein the positioning arrangement in the reading station is suitable for holding the cartridge in position during the preparation and dispensing of the drink.

18. Apparatus according to claim1, wherein the optical code is a barcode and the reader comprises a barcode reader.

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 having at least one face is provided with an optical code on the at least one face identifying the cartridge 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 comprising an abutment plane against which the cartridge rests,

wherein said reading window projects from the abutment plane in the reading station.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reading window is flat and arranged according to a reading plane tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to the abutment plane.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, where in the predetermined angle is between 0 and 30°

.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the reading window is flat and arranged according to a reading plane parallel to the abutment plane and raised with respect to the abutment plane.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the reading window is convex.

24. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reading window is closed by a panel made from transparent material.

25. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reading window is closed by a panel made from a material with a predetermined degree of opaqueness to obtain a diffusing effect.

26. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reading window is open.

27. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said reading window has smooth edges.

28. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a thruster, acting on the cartridge so that the thruster presses the cartridge against said reading window.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said thruster and said abutment plane are mutually mobile between an open position, in which said thruster and said abutment plane are sufficiently spaced apart as to allow the cartridge to pass between the thruster and the abutment plane, and a closed position, in which said thruster thrusts towards the abutment plane so as to lock the cartridge between the thruster and abutment plane.

30. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said thruster and said abutment plane are fixed together, defining an air space in which a cartridge can be inserted and inside of which the portion of face of the cartridge with the optical code is pressed on said reading window.

31. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the reader is active to read the optical code on the cartridge in the reading station only when the positioning arrangement presses the face of the cartridge with the optical code against said reading window.

32. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the cartridge path comprises a drink preparation and dispensing station coinciding with the reading station, and wherein the positioning arrangement in the reading station is suitable for holding the cartridge in position during the preparation and dispensing of the drink.

33. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the optical code is a barcode and the reader comprises a barcode reader.