Beverage dispensing device with freshness indicator

US8241918B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV · NL

Inventors

• Guenter Zeitler · Aachen, DE
• Matthias Bertram · Aachen, DE
• Christian Baeumer · Hergenrath, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 2007
• Grant date: Aug 14, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/115831
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A beverage dispensing device including a housing, a tapping device for dispensing a beverage, a beverage container connectable with the tapping device, a freshness indicator device, a data input unit for recording replacement of the beverage container, a temperature sensor for measuring the storage temperature of the beverage, a temperature controller for adjusting the cooling temperature of a chiller, a storage unit for storing the freshness criteria, and a processing unit. The temperature sensor transmits the current beverage storage temperature to the processing unit and the processing unit calculates, depending on a recorded storage temperature period and based on stored freshness criteria, the actual freshness of the beverage, the time left until expiry of the freshness of the beverage and/or the date of expiry of the freshness of the beverage. The processing unit transmits the calculated data to the display.