	US 12,070,149 B2
	Drinks preparation machine
Christian Dünki, Au (CH); and Patrik Naeff, Thal (CH)
Assigned to TCHIBO GMBH, Hamburg (DE)
Appl. No. 17/285,545
Filed by Tchibo GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 17, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/078291 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 15, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/079191, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18201280 (EP), filed on Oct. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378438 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 31/40 (2006.01); A23F 5/26 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01); A47J 31/52 (2006.01)

CPC A47J 31/407 (2013.01) [A23F 5/262 (2013.01); A47J 31/468 (2018.08); A47J 31/521 (2018.08); A47J 31/5255 (2018.08)]

11 Claims

1. A drinks preparation machine, comprising a brewing module for forming a brewing chamber which is designed for receiving a portion package with a drinks substance, a pump for delivering a preparation fluid through a fluid conduit into the brewing chamber, a flow-meter which is arranged on the fluid conduit, as well as machine electronics for controlling the pump and for acquiring measurement data of the flow-meter, wherein the machine electronics are configured to evaluate the measurement data of the flow-meter and from this evaluation to make a differentiation between a first state which corresponds to a state with the portion package inserted into the brewing chamber, and a second state which corresponds to a state without the portion package inserted into the brewing chamber, in order to detect a presence or an absence of the portion package in the brewing chamber.