Ergonomic interface screen for a beverage machine

Abstract

A machine for filling a receptacle with a liquid food or beverage. The machine includes a housing; an arrangement for dispensing a liquid food or a beverage to a receptacle upon a user-request; and a user-interface screen on the housing. The housing has a user-orientation for a user to request dispensing of the liquid food or beverage, the user-interface screen being arranged in this user-orientation to face the user within a user-visible housing portion that is delimited by user-visible outermost boundaries of this housing. In this user-orientation, the user-interface screen forms substantially the entire user-visible housing portion or a surface-predominant section thereof or a surface-predominant section of a plurality of distinctively user-visible sections that form together the user-visible housing portion.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A machine for filling a receptacle with a liquid food or beverage, comprising:
 a housing;   an arrangement for dispensing a liquid food or a beverage to a receptacle upon a user-request; and   a user-interface screen on the housing,   wherein the housing has a user-orientation for a user to request dispensing of the liquid food or beverage, with the user-interface screen being arranged in the user-orientation to face the user within a user-visible housing portion that is delimited by user-visible outermost boundaries of the housing; and   wherein, in the user-orientation, the user-interface screen forms:   substantially the entire user-visible housing portion or a surface-predominant section thereof; or   a surface-predominant section of a plurality of distinctively user-visible sections that form together the user-visible housing portion.   
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein the user-orientation is so arranged that the user has a normal direction of vision that is generally orthogonal to the user-interface screen and intercepts a central part thereof when the user normally requests dispensing of the liquid food or beverage. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein the user-interface screen is either a touch-sensitive screen or comprises touch-sensitive input parts, with the user interface screen optionally being stylus sensitive. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 16 , which further comprises an interface for connection to a remote network for accessing remote data displayable on the user-interface screen or for transferring local data acquired via the user interface screen, from a network for supplying visual or audio information in relation with a liquid food or beverage that can be requested by the user; or for ordering a supply of goods or a service related to the machine by using the user-interface screen. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein the user-interface screen is arranged to perform at least one function selected from displaying information to the user regarding a parameter of the machine that requires a user intervention, displaying locally stored or remotely emitted graphic or text matter, a notepad function, or a visual ambiance generator. 
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 16 , which comprises a sound input or output device which is arranged to cooperate functionally with the user-interface screen, for providing melodic acoustic feed back in reaction to user-input on the user-interface screen or for cooperating with the screen so that harmonious visual feed-back is generated on the user-interface screen in reaction to an audio signal. 
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 16 , which has a generally panel-shaped main body containing the dispensing arrangement or a part thereof, the user-interface screen extending substantially over: an entire main side of the main body or over one entire surface-predominant distinctively user-visible section of a main side of the main body. 
     
     
         23 . The machine of  claim 22 , which is substantially formed by the main body. 
     
     
         24 . The machine of  claim 22 , which has a foot for supporting the main body, the foot having a base extending horizontally and a generally upright extending stand supporting the main body. 
     
     
         25 . The machine of  claim 24 , wherein the foot further comprising at least one of a generally L-shaped or inverted T-shaped foot; a drip tray having a support member for a receptacle to be filled with a liquid food or beverage; a capsule collector; or a liquid supply reservoir. 
     
     
         26 . The machine of  claim 16 , which has a liquid food or beverage outlet located above an area for receiving a receptacle to be filled, with the outlet in the user-orientation being hidden by the user-interface screen. 
     
     
         27 . The machine of  claim 26 , wherein at least a substantial part or all of the outlet being located perpendicularly behind the user-interface screen. 
     
     
         28 . The machine of  claim 16 , which is a table-top machine and wherein the user-interface screen extends horizontally or at a slope adjusted to substantially face a user visual field in the user-orientation. 
     
     
         29 . The machine of  claim 28 , wherein the user-interface screen extends at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 0 to 60 degrees, with the angle being optionally user-adjustable. 
     
     
         30 . The machine of  claim 16 , which is a shelf-top machine and wherein the user interface screen extends vertically or at a slope adjusted to substantially face a user visual field in the user-orientation. 
     
     
         31 . The machine of  claim 30 , wherein the user-interface screen extends at an angle to the vertical in the range of 0 to 30 degrees, with the angle being optionally user-adjustable. 
     
     
         32 . A table-top machine for filling a receptacle with a liquid food or beverage, comprising:
 a housing;   an arrangement for dispensing a liquid food or a beverage to a receptacle upon a user-request; and   a user-interface screen on the housing,   wherein the user-interface screen extends horizontally or at a slope having an angle to the horizontal in the range of 0 to 60 degrees, with the angle optionally being user-adjustable.   
     
     
         33 . A machine for filling a receptacle with a liquid food or beverage, comprising:
 a housing;   an arrangement with an outlet for dispensing a liquid food or a beverage to a receptacle upon a user-request; and   a user-interface screen on the housing,   wherein the entire area or a substantial part thereof of the liquid food or a beverage outlet is located perpendicularly behind the user-interface screen.   
     
     
         34 . The machine of claim  3 , wherein the outlet is located above an area for receiving the receptacle. 
     
     
         35 . A machine for filling a receptacle with a liquid food or beverage comprising:
 a housing;   an arrangement with an outlet for dispensing a liquid food or a beverage to a receptacle upon a user-request;   a user-interface screen on the housing, and   a remote-control receiver so as to be at least partly operable by a user from a distance by means of a corresponding remote control device.