Beverage apparatus waste bin level detection
First Claim
1. A beverage forming apparatus comprising:
- a housing to support components of the beverage forming apparatus, the housing having a waste bin receiving area;
a beverage forming station supported by the housing and arranged to combine a precursor liquid with a beverage material to form a beverage that is dispensed via a dispense outlet at a dispense area;
a precursor liquid supply system supported by the housing for providing precursor liquid to the beverage forming station;
a waste bin positioned away from the dispense outlet and arranged to collect waste liquid released from the beverage forming station other than from the dispense outlet, the waste bin including a liquid level sensor to detect a liquid level in the waste bin and at least one electrically conductive contact arranged to connect with a corresponding housing contact with the waste bin positioned at the waste bin receiving area, the waste bin being removable from the waste bin receiving area of the housing;
wherein the beverage forming station includes a cartridge holder, and the waste bin is arranged to receive liquid expelled from the cartridge holder or a cartridge in the cartridge holder; and
a control circuit arranged to control the liquid supply system to deliver precursor liquid to the beverage forming station to dispense a beverage only when a signal received from the liquid level sensor via the at least one electrically conductive contact indicates that a liquid level in the waste bin is below a threshold level.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage forming method and system in which a waste bin arranged to collect leaked or spilled liquid has a liquid level sensor and can be removed from the beverage forming machine, e.g., to allow disposal of the waste bin contents. One or more electrical contacts on the waste bin can be connected to the level sensor and electrically connect to control circuitry of the beverage forming machine when the waste bin is received by the machine. A liquid level detected by the level sensor may correspond to a fill level that is far less than the maximum volume of the waste bin, allowing beverage production to be prevented unless the waste bin can collect the full volume of a beverage dispensed.
42 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A beverage forming apparatus comprising:
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a housing to support components of the beverage forming apparatus, the housing having a waste bin receiving area; a beverage forming station supported by the housing and arranged to combine a precursor liquid with a beverage material to form a beverage that is dispensed via a dispense outlet at a dispense area; a precursor liquid supply system supported by the housing for providing precursor liquid to the beverage forming station; a waste bin positioned away from the dispense outlet and arranged to collect waste liquid released from the beverage forming station other than from the dispense outlet, the waste bin including a liquid level sensor to detect a liquid level in the waste bin and at least one electrically conductive contact arranged to connect with a corresponding housing contact with the waste bin positioned at the waste bin receiving area, the waste bin being removable from the waste bin receiving area of the housing;
wherein the beverage forming station includes a cartridge holder, and the waste bin is arranged to receive liquid expelled from the cartridge holder or a cartridge in the cartridge holder; anda control circuit arranged to control the liquid supply system to deliver precursor liquid to the beverage forming station to dispense a beverage only when a signal received from the liquid level sensor via the at least one electrically conductive contact indicates that a liquid level in the waste bin is below a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling a beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
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providing a beverage forming apparatus having a waste bin that is removable from a beverage forming apparatus housing, the waste bin having at least one electrically conductive contact in connection with a corresponding housing contact with the waste bin received by the housing;
wherein the beverage forming apparatus has a beverage forming station with a cartridge holder;
collecting liquid that leaks from the beverage forming station separate from a dispense outlet of the beverage forming station in the waste bin;detecting whether a fill volume of liquid in the waste bin is equal to or greater than a threshold volume based on a signal received via the at least one electrically conductive contact; and preventing operation of the beverage forming apparatus to dispense a beverage if the fill volume is detected to be greater than or equal to the threshold volume. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification