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EP-4739180-A1 - BEVERAGE MAKER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A BEVERAGE MAKER

EP4739180A1EP 4739180 A1EP4739180 A1EP 4739180A1EP-4739180-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage maker and a method, in which a diagnostic program is used that is programmed to identify at least one faulty component of the beverage maker. The diagnostic program is used to read out measured values from at least one sensor from at least two different paths of the beverage maker, compare them with a predefined value range for the respective measured values and generate a result of the determination process in each case. These at least two results of the determination process are combined to form a combined result and the combined result is compared with an assignment in which predetermined combined results are each assigned to a diagnostic result in a logical link. A clear diagnostic result can be obtained by comparison with the assignment. This makes identification of a faulty component of the beverage maker easier, quicker and more accurate.

Inventors

  • Joos, Stephan
  • FRANK, GÖLTENBOTH

Assignees

  • WMF GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240606

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A beverage maker, comprising a) a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising at least one sensor; b) a data memory; c) a diagnostic program stored on the data memory and programmed to identify at least one faulty component of the beverage maker, the diagnostic program programmed to carry out at least the following steps: i) activating at least one first path of the beverage maker and detecting at least one measured value from at least one sensor in the at least one first path of the beverage maker; ii) activating at least one second path of the beverage maker, which is different from the first path, and detecting at least one measured value from at least one sensor in the at least one second path of the beverage maker, the at least one sensor in the at least one second path being identical or different to the at least one sensor in the at least one first path; iii) comparing the at least one measured value recorded in the at least one first path of the beverage maker with a predetermined value range for the at least one measured value and determining whether the at least one recorded measured value lies within or outside the predetermined value range, a first result being obtained from this determination, and comparing the at least one a second path of the beverage maker, at least one measured value with a predetermined value range for the at least one measured value and determine whether the at least one measured value detected is within or outside the predetermined value range, wherein a second result results from this determination; iv) combining the first result of the determination and the second result of the determination to form a combined result and comparing the combined result with an assignment accessible to the beverage maker, in which predetermined combined results are each assigned to a diagnostic result in a logical connection; and v) outputting a diagnostic result obtained by comparing with the assignment; d) a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to carry out the diagnostic program based on a command and to provide a user of the beverage maker with the diagnostic result output by the diagnostic program.
  2. 2. Drinks maker according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the diagnostic program is programmed a) in step ii) to also activate at least one third path of the drinks maker, which is a path of the drinks maker that is different from at least one first path and at least one second path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the drinks maker, preferably also to activate at least one fourth path of the drinks maker, which is a path of the drinks maker that is different from at least one first path, at least one second path and at least one third path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the drinks maker, particularly preferably also to activate at least one fifth path of the drinks maker, which is a path of the beverage maker that is different from at least one first path, at least one second path, at least one third path and at least one fourth path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the beverage maker, in particular also to activate at least one sixth path of the beverage maker, which is a path of the beverage maker that is different from at least one first path, at least one second path, at least one third path, at least one fourth path and at least one fifth path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the beverage maker, wherein the at least one sensor of the respective paths is identical or different, wherein activation of each further path optionally only takes place after deactivation of at least one previously activated path or all previously activated paths; b) in step iii) to compare the measured values recorded in the respective paths with a predetermined value range for the respective measured values and to determine whether the respective recorded measured values are within or outside the predetermined value range, wherein a result in each case emerges from this determination; (c) in step iv), combine the respective results of the respective investigations into a combined result and compare the combined result with the allocation available to the beverage maker.
  3. 3. Drink maker according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the diagnostic program is programmed to a) activate the at least one second path only when the at least one first path has been deactivated, wherein the diagnostic program is optionally programmed to activate further paths of the drink beverage maker if at least one path of the beverage maker has been deactivated or all other paths of the beverage maker have been deactivated; or b) to activate the at least one second path while the at least one first path is activated, wherein the diagnostic program is optionally programmed to activate further paths of the beverage maker if at least one previously activated path of the beverage maker is still active or all previously activated paths of the beverage maker are still active.
  4. 4. Drinks maker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diagnostic program is programmed a) in step i) and/or step ii) to record at least one measured value from at least one second sensor, preferably also at least one measured value from at least one third sensor, particularly preferably also at least one measured value from at least one fourth sensor, in the at least one first path and/or in the at least one second path, preferably also in at least one third path, particularly preferably also in at least one fourth path, in particular also in at least one fifth path, optionally also in at least one sixth path, of the drinks maker; and b) in step iii) to compare the at least one measured value from the at least one second sensor, preferably also the at least one measured value from at least one third sensor, particularly preferably also the at least one measured value from the at least one fourth sensor, with a value range specified for the respective measured values and to determine whether the measured values recorded in each case lie within or outside the respective specified value ranges, with a result emerging from this determination in each case; (c) in step iv), combine the respective results of the respective investigations into a combined result and compare the combined result with the allocation available to the beverage maker.
  5. 5. Drinks maker according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one sensor, preferably two sensors, more preferably at least three sensors, particularly preferably at least four sensors, in the at least one first path and/or in the at least one second path of the drinks maker, preferably also in at least one third path of the drinks maker, particularly preferably also in at least one fourth path of the drinks maker, in particular also in at least one fifth path of the drinks maker, optionally also in at least one sixth path of the drinks maker, is/are selected from the group consisting of pressure sensor, flow sensor, electrical current sensor, electrical voltage sensor, temperature sensor, displacement sensor, position sensor, presence sensor, sensor for detecting electrical conductivity, fill level sensor, angle of rotation sensor, acoustic sensor, image capture sensor and combinations thereof.
  6. 6. Drinks maker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinks maker contains an operating interface and/or an electronic data transmission interface, wherein preferably a) the operating interface is configured for entering commands to the drinks maker and for displaying information, wherein the operating interface particularly preferably contains or consists of a touchscreen; and/or b) the electronic data transmission interface has a wired or wireless connection to the data memory of the drinks maker and/or to an external server; c) the control unit is in particular configured to display the diagnostic result from the operating interface of the drinks maker and/or transmitted to the electronic data transmission interface of the beverage maker.
  7. 7. Drinks maker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit is configured to carry out the diagnostic program based on a command which a) is received via an operating interface of the drinks maker; and/or b) is received via an electronic data transmission interface of the drinks maker; and/or c) is generated after the expiration of a predetermined period of time, preferably generated by the control unit; and/or d) is generated after the occurrence of a certain operating state of the drinks maker, preferably generated by the control unit; and/or e) is generated after detection of an operating error of the beverage maker, preferably generated by the control unit, wherein the operating error is particularly preferably detected by at least one sensor of the beverage maker, wherein in order to detect the operating error, in particular a program of the beverage maker is programmed to carry out at least the following steps: i) detecting at least one measured value from all sensors of the beverage maker that monitor a specific operating process of the beverage maker, ii) comparing the measured values recorded in each case with a predetermined value range for the measured values recorded in each case, iii) determining, based on the comparison, whether an operating error is present, wherein no determination is made as to whether at least one component of the beverage maker is faulty, and iv) If it is determined that an operating error exists, cause the control unit to run the diagnostic program.
  8. 8. Method for operating a beverage maker, comprising the steps of a) carrying out a diagnostic program when a control unit of the beverage maker receives and/or generates a corresponding command, wherein the diagnostic program is stored on the data memory of a beverage maker and is programmed to identify at least one faulty component of the beverage maker; b) carrying out at least the following steps by the diagnostic program: i) activating at least one first path of the beverage maker and recording at least one measured value from at least one sensor in the at least one first path of the beverage maker; ii) activating at least one second path of the beverage maker, which is different from the first path, and recording at least one measured value from at least one sensor in the at least one second path of the beverage maker, wherein the at least one sensor in the at least one second path is identical or different to the at least one sensor in the at least one first path; iii) comparing the at least one measured value recorded in the at least one first path of the beverage maker with a predetermined value range for the at least one measured value and determining whether the at least one recorded measured value lies within or outside the predetermined value range, a first result being obtained from this determination, and comparing the at least one a second path of the beverage maker, at least one measured value with a predetermined value range for the at least one measured value and determine whether the at least one measured value detected is within or outside the predetermined value range, wherein a second result results from this determination; iv) combining the first result of the determination and the second result of the determination to form a combined result and comparing the combined result with an assignment accessible to the beverage maker, in which predetermined combined results are each assigned to a diagnostic result in a logical connection; and v) outputting a diagnostic result obtained by comparing with the assignment; and c) providing the diagnostic result output by the diagnostic program to a user via the control unit of the beverage maker.
  9. 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the diagnostic program is programmed a) in step ii) to also activate at least one third path of the beverage maker, which is a path of the beverage maker that is different from at least one first path and at least one second path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the beverage maker, preferably also to activate at least one fourth path of the beverage maker, which is a path of the beverage maker that is different from at least one first path, at least one second path and at least one third path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the beverage maker, particularly preferably also to activate at least one fifth path of the beverage maker. four, which is a path of the beverage maker that is different from at least one first path, at least one second path, at least one third path and at least one fourth path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the beverage maker, in particular also to activate at least one sixth path of the beverage maker, which is a path of the beverage maker that is different from at least one first path, at least one second path, at least one third path, at least one fourth path and at least one fifth path, and to record at least one measured value from at least one sensor in this path of the beverage maker, wherein the at least one sensor of the respective paths is identical or different, wherein activation of each further path optionally only takes place after deactivation of at least one previously activated path or of all previously activated paths; b) in step iii), comparing the measured values recorded in the respective paths with a predetermined value range for the respective measured values and determining whether the respective measured values recorded are within or outside the predetermined value range, wherein a result in each case emerges from this determination; (c) in step iv), combine the respective results of the determination into a combined result and compare the combined result with the allocation available to the beverage maker.
  10. 10. Method according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the diagnostic program is programmed to a) activate the at least one second path only when the at least one first path has been deactivated, wherein the diagnostic program is optionally programmed to activate further paths of the beverage beverage maker if at least one path of the beverage maker has been deactivated or all other paths of the beverage maker have been deactivated; or b) to activate the at least one second path while the at least one first path is activated, wherein the diagnostic program is optionally programmed to activate further paths of the beverage maker if at least one previously activated path of the beverage maker is still active or all previously activated paths of the beverage maker are still active.
  11. 11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the diagnostic program is programmed a) in step i) and/or step ii) to record at least one measured value from at least one second sensor, preferably also at least one measured value from at least one third sensor, particularly preferably also at least one measured value from at least one fourth sensor, in the at least one first path and/or in the at least one second path, preferably also in at least one third path, particularly preferably also in at least one fourth path, in particular also in at least one fifth path, optionally also in at least one sixth path, of the beverage maker; b) in step iii) to compare the at least one measured value from the at least one second sensor, preferably also the at least one measured value from at least one third sensor, particularly preferably also the at least one measured value from the at least one fourth sensor, with a value range specified for the respective measured values and to determine whether the measured values recorded in each case lie within or outside the respective specified value ranges, with a result emerging from this determination in each case; (c) in step iv), combine the respective results of the respective investigations into a combined result and compare the combined result with the allocation available to the beverage maker.
  12. 12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the at least one sensor, preferably two sensors, more preferably at least three sensors, particularly preferably at least four sensors, in the at least one first path and/or in the at least one second path of the beverage maker, preferably also in at least one third path of the beverage maker, particularly preferably also in at least one fourth path of the beverage maker, in particular also in at least one fifth path of the beverage maker, optionally also in at least one sixth path of the beverage maker, is/are selected from the group consisting of pressure sensor, flow sensor, electrical current sensor, electrical voltage sensor, temperature sensor, displacement sensor, position sensor, presence sensor, sensor for detecting electrical conductivity, fill level sensor, angle of rotation sensor, acoustic sensor, image capture sensor and combinations thereof.
  13. 13. Method according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the beverage maker contains an operating interface and/or an electronic data transmission interface, wherein preferably a) the operating interface is configured for entering commands to the beverage maker and for displaying information, wherein the operating interface particularly preferably contains or consists of a touchscreen; and/or b) the electronic data transmission interface has a wired or wireless connection to the data memory of the beverage maker and/or to an external server; c) the control unit is in particular configured to display the diagnostic result from the operating interface of the beverage maker and/or transmitted to the electronic data transmission interface of the beverage maker.
  14. 14. Method according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the diagnostic program is carried out on the basis of a command which is received by the control unit a) via an operating interface of the beverage maker; and/or b) via an electronic data transmission interface of the beverage maker; and/or c) is generated after the expiration of a predetermined period of time, preferably generated by the control unit; and/or d) is generated after the occurrence of a certain operating state of the beverage maker, preferably generated by the control unit; and/or e) is generated after detection of an operating error of the beverage maker, preferably generated by the control unit, wherein the operating error is particularly preferably detected by at least one sensor of the beverage maker, wherein in order to detect the operating error, in particular a program of the beverage maker is programmed to carry out at least the following steps: i) detecting at least one measured value from all sensors of the beverage maker that monitor a specific operating process of the beverage maker, ii) comparing the measured values recorded in each case with a predetermined value range for the measured values recorded in each case, iii) determining, based on the comparison, whether an operating error is present, wherein no determination is made as to whether at least one component of the beverage maker is faulty, and iv) If it is determined that an operating error exists, cause the control unit to run the diagnostic program.
  15. 15. Method according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that it is carried out by a beverage maker according to one of claims 1 to 7 is carried out.

Description

Beverage maker and method for operating a beverage maker A beverage maker and a method are provided in which a diagnostic program is used which is programmed to identify at least one faulty component of the beverage maker. The diagnostic program reads out measured values from at least one sensor from at least two different paths of the beverage maker, compares them with a predetermined value range for the respective measured values, and creates a result of the determination in each case. These at least two results of the determination are combined to form a combined result, and the combined result is compared with an assignment in which predetermined combined results are each assigned to a diagnostic result in a logical connection. By comparing with the assignment, a clear diagnostic result can be obtained. This makes it possible to identify a faulty component of the beverage maker in a simpler, faster, and more accurate manner. In the state of the art, it is known that in the event of errors occurring during the operation of a beverage maker (e.g. a coffee machine), a corresponding error code (e.g. error code: "1234") and/or a corresponding error message (e.g. "DFM error") is displayed and logged by the beverage maker, optionally sent by telemetry from the beverage maker. These error codes or error messages are often very general and only provide information about the symptoms of the error, for example that too little or no liquid flows when the drinks maker dispenses a drink. However, the known drinks makers do not provide any information about the cause of the error, i.e. they do not provide information about which component of the drinks maker is causing the symptoms, i.e. is faulty. US 2005/230417 A1 discloses a system and method for testing a beverage maker before it is shipped. The system records measured values of a component of the beverage maker and compares them with a target range. If the recorded measured values fall outside the target range, an error state is displayed, otherwise a pass state is displayed. The disadvantage of the system and method is that it is not designed to record error states during normal operation by a user of the beverage maker. Furthermore, this system and method only displays an error state that has been recorded by at least one sensor, i.e. no diagnosis is carried out as to which component of the beverage maker could be the cause of the error state, i.e. no faulty component is identified by the system and method. This makes it difficult, complex and time-consuming for a user of the beverage maker (e.g. an operator or service technician) to assign the error state to a faulty component of the beverage maker. EP 3 590 396 B1 discloses a beverage maker and a method for diagnosing a beverage maker, wherein a program records measured values of at least one component of the beverage maker for a specific period of time via at least one sensor and provides these to the electronic data transmission interface of the beverage maker and/or stores them on the data storage device. The disadvantage here is that the data provided and/or stored measured values do not contain any reference to a possible faulty component. Due to this lack of information, it is not possible to state with great accuracy which component(s) of the beverage maker have a fault. In other words, it is difficult, complex and time-consuming for a user of the beverage maker (e.g. an operator or service technician) to identify a faulty component of the beverage maker. In the known systems and methods, the success of correcting an identified error also depends on the level of knowledge and experience of the user of the beverage maker (e.g. user or service technician). This can lead to incorrect error correction. For example, an incorrect component of the beverage maker can be replaced or, in addition to an actually faulty component, at least one non-faulty component of the beverage maker can be replaced. This results in more time, more resources, higher costs and longer downtimes for the beverage maker, which can have a negative impact on the satisfaction of a user of the beverage maker. Based on this, the object of the present invention was to provide a beverage maker and a method for operating a beverage maker in which at least one disadvantage from the prior art is overcome. In particular, the beverage maker and the method should make it possible to identify a faulty component of the beverage maker in a simpler, faster and more accurate manner. It should be possible to save both resources and time in rectifying a fault when a fault occurs in the beverage maker. The object is achieved by the beverage maker having the features of claim 1 and the method having the features of claim 8. The dependent claims show advantageous further developments. According to the invention, a beverage maker is provided comprising a) a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components comprises at least one sensor; b) a d