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Appliance having a user interface panel and a beverage dispenser

DC
  • US 8,290,616 B2
  • Filed: 01/09/2012
  • Issued: 10/16/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An appliance comprising:

  • a housing;

    a dispenser supported by the housing;

    a water supplier supported by the housing and connected to the dispenser;

    a drink supplier supported by the housing and connected to the dispenser, said drink supplier configured to removably hold a plurality of drink supply cartridges;

    a user interface panel supported by the housing, said user interface panel including a touch screen; and

    a computer supported by the housing and connected to the dispenser and the user interface panel, said computer configured to;

    (a) cause the user interface panel to display a plurality of different beverage images, each different beverage image associated with a different one of a plurality of different beverages, a plurality of the different beverages corresponding to a different one of the plurality of drink supply cartridges held by the drink supplier, each drink supply cartridge containing drink supply,(b) cause the user interface panel via the touch screen to receive a plurality of inputs corresponding to said plurality of different displayed beverage images,(c) for each received input, cause the dispenser to dispense the beverage associated with a selected beverage image corresponding to said input, said beverage dispensed using at least the drink supply in the drink supply cartridge corresponding to said beverage associated with the selected beverage image, and(d) cause the user interface panel to display information regarding at least one of;

    (i) a consumption amount of drink supply from at least one of the plurality of drink supply cartridges; and

    (ii) a remaining amount drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply cartridges.

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