Method and apparatus for beverage carafe detection

摘要

A beverage forming method and system in which a carafe with an associated magnetic element is positionable at a carafe receiving area. One of a protrusion and a first recess is associated with the carafe and the other of the protrusion and the first recess is associated with a housing. The housing includes a detector arranged to detect the presence of the magnetic element when the protrusion is inserted into the first recess. Beverage formation of an amount greater than a threshold volume is enabled when the detector detects the magnetic element.

主权项

1. A beverage forming apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a beverage carafe having a body defining an interior space for holding a beverage, an opening through which the beverage is dispensable into the interior space, and a magnetic element associated with a lower portion of the carafe; a housing having a carafe receiving area to receive the carafe and in which the carafe is associated with the housing to receive the beverage dispensed into the opening; a protrusion associated with a lower side portion of one of the carafe and the housing; a first recess for receiving the protrusion, the first recess being formed in the other of the carafe and the housing; a detector arranged to detect the presence of the magnetic element when the protrusion is inserted into the recess; a beverage forming station supported by the housing and arranged to combine a precursor liquid with a beverage material to form the beverage that is dispensed into the carafe at the carafe receiving area; a liquid supply system supported by the housing for providing precursor liquid to the beverage forming station; and a control circuit arranged to control the liquid supply system to deliver precursor liquid to the beverage forming station to dispense more than a threshold volume of beverage only when the detector detects the magnetic element.