Method and apparatus for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products

Abstract

A method for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products is implemented in a machine including a one containment tank for containing a liquid basic product, a processing circuit for that product, to obtain a liquid or semi-liquid food product, a dispenser for dispensing the food product, an actuator acting on the basic product and/or on the food product and/or on parts of the machine, and a user interface for controlling the making and dispensing. The method, implemented by a control and processing unit connected with the user interface, includes: measuring one or more operating parameters, activating a first data communication for obtaining the operating parameters, receiving the operating parameters, activating a second data communication with the user interface for receiving commands representing selectable settings of preparations, and controlling the actuator as a function of the operating parameters and commands received.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products in a machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, the machine comprising:
 at least one containment tank for containing a liquid basic product;   a processing circuit for the basic liquid product, for obtaining a liquid or semi-liquid food product;   dispensing means for dispensing the food product;   at least one actuator acting on the basic product and/or on the food product and/or on parts of the machine;   a user interface configured for controlling the making and dispensing;   the method comprising the steps, implemented by a control and processing unit connected with the user interface, of:   measuring one or more operating parameters of the machine using at least one sensor;   activating a first data communication with the at least one sensor for obtaining the operating parameters,   receiving the operating parameters through a first communication channel;   activating a second data communication with the user interface wherein the latter is configured for receiving commands from a user representing settings of preparations which can be selected;   receiving the commands through a second communication channel;   controlling the at least one actuator as a function of:   the operating parameters received through the first communication channel;   the commands received through the second communication channel;   wherein the steps described are performed by means of software instructions, wherein the steps of receiving the operating parameters through the first communication channel follow the steps of:   continuously monitoring the operating parameters received from the at least one sensor;   processing the operating parameters as a function of communication libraries determining processed operational information;   sending to the user interface the processed operational information, the information determining the settings of preparations which can be selected.   
     
     
         2 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step, implemented using the control and processing unit, of reading and/or writing in the communication channel as a function of the communication libraries. 
     
     
         3 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the steps are implemented by the control and processing unit using software instructions of an operating system. 
     
     
         4 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication occurs on the communication channel which comprises a Modbus channel. 
     
     
         5 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication on the channel is made using a RTU or TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 preparing a plurality of containment tanks, respectively at least a first containment tank for a first basic liquid product and a second containment tank for a second basic liquid product, and wherein the step of controlling the at least one actuator simultaneously controls at least a first actuator acting on the first liquid product and at least a second actuator acting on the second liquid product.   
     
     
         7 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 6 , comprising the steps of:
 cooling or heating the first containment tank using a system for cooling or heating the first liquid product;   cooling or heating the second containment tank using a system for cooling or heating the second liquid product.   
     
     
         8 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 6 , comprising the step of cooling and/or heating the plurality of containment tanks using a single compressor. 
     
     
         9 . The making and dispensing method according to  claim 6 , comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the compressor as a function of the state of each containment tank. 
     
     
         10 . A machine for making and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid food products, comprising:
 at least one containment tank for containing a liquid basic product;   a processing circuit for the basic liquid product, for obtaining a liquid or semi-liquid food product;   dispensing means for dispensing the food product;   at least one actuator acting on the basic product and/or on the food product and/or on parts of the machine;   a user interface configured for controlling the making and dispensing;   a control and processing unit, connected with the user interface, and connected at least to the at least one sensor and to the at least one actuator, and   the machine being characterized by a channel for data communication between the at least one sensor, at least one actuator and the control and processing unit, wherein the control and processing unit is characterized in that it also comprises:   a software interface module, which can be connected to a user interface and which is configured for:   activating a second data communication with the user interface wherein the latter is configured for receiving commands from a user representing settings of preparations which can be selected;   receiving the commands through a second communication channel;   a supervision software module configured for:   measuring one or more operating parameters of the machine using at least one sensor;   activating a first data communication with the at least one sensor for obtaining the operating parameters,   receiving the operating parameters through a first communication channel;   a processing software module configured for managing the performance, in the control and processing unit, of at least the supervision software module and the software interface module, and further configured for:   controlling the at least one actuator as a function of:   the operating parameters obtained through the supervision software module;   the commands obtained through the software interface module;   wherein the supervision software module is further configured for:   continuously monitoring the operating parameters received from the at least one sensor;   processing the operating parameters as a function of communication libraries determining processed operational information;   sending to the user interface the processed operational information, the information determining the settings of preparations which can be selected.   
     
     
         11 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the supervision software module is further configured for reading and/or writing in the communication channel as a function of the communication libraries. 
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the processing software module is an operating system. 
     
     
         13 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the communication channel comprises a Modbus channel. 
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the Modbus channel is configured for allowing communication on RTU or TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The machine according to  claim 10  comprising a plurality of containment tanks, respectively at least a first containment tank for a first basic liquid product and a second containment tank for a second basic liquid product, and wherein:
 the supervision software module is configured for controlling simultaneously at least a first actuator acting on the first liquid product and at least a second actuator acting on the second liquid product. 
 
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the circuit for processing the basic liquid product comprises at least one system for cooling and/or heating the basic liquid product. 
     
     
         17 . The machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the circuit for processing the basic liquid product comprises:
 at least one system for cooling or heating the first liquid product, configured to cool or heat the first containment tank;   a system for cooling or heating the second liquid product, configured to cool or heat the second containment tank.   
     
     
         18 . The machine according to  claim 15 , comprising a single compressor for cooling and/or heating the plurality of containment tanks. 
     
     
         19 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the supervision software module is configured for adjusting the speed of the compressor as a function of the state of each containment tank. 
     
     
         20 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the supervision software module comprises a first state based machine, comprising a plurality of states for controlling the at least one actuator as a function at least of the signal of the at least one sensor and/or the received commands issued by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the supervision software module comprises a second state based machine, comprising a plurality of states and configured for controlling the actuators and controlling the state of each containment tank.