Method for controlling an apparatus for dispensing food products

1. A method for controlling an apparatus for dispensing fluid or creamy food products, the method comprising:

associating said apparatus with a measuring means for measuring a weight of said entire apparatus;

measuring variations in said weight of said apparatus with respect to a predetermined reference value;

calculating weight variations in said product contained in said apparatus according to said variations in said weight of said apparatus;

calculating consumed product starting from an initial supply of said product, according to said variations in said weight of said product contained in said apparatus;

sending said measurements of said consumed product to an external control unit predisposed to manage said apparatus by a remote control means.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

associating a sensor means with said apparatus for detecting a plurality of functional parameters;

measuring one or more of a state of said functional parameters and variations in said functional parameters;

sending obtained data to said external control unit predisposed to manage said apparatus by said remote control means.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said obtained data is sent to said external control unit by said remote control means using general packet radio service (GPRS) or transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) technologies.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said data is sent by said remote control means using cellular mobile phones.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

inhibiting a normal operation of the apparatus once said initial supply has been completely consumed.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said associating said apparatus with said measuring means comprises providing at least one load cell integrated in a support foot of a base of a tank of said apparatus.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein said support foot defines a lowermost portion of said apparatus.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a dispensing location of said apparatus is free of support from any portion of said apparatus.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein no portion of said apparatus is provided at a dispensing location of said apparatus.

10. A device for controlling an apparatus for dispensing fluid or creamy food products, the apparatus comprising a tank for containing a product to be dispensed, a heat treatment means of said product contained inside said tank and a dispensing device of said product frontally associated with said tank, the device comprising:

a measuring means for measuring a weight of said apparatus;

a processing means for measuring variations in said weight of said entire apparatus with respect to a predetermined reference value and calculating the variations in product weight of said product contained in said apparatus based on said variations in said weight of said entire apparatus;

a remote control means for sending consumed product measurements to an external control unit for managing the apparatus.

11. A device according to claim 10 , further comprising a sensor means for detecting a plurality of functional parameters associated with said apparatus.

12. A device according to claim 11 , wherein said functional parameters comprise at least one of a position of said apparatus, a general switching on of said apparatus, a switching on of said heat treatment means, a temperature determined by said heat treatment means, an activation of a product mixing means inside said tank, enabling of the remote control means and one or more error codes emitted by a controller dedicated to managing at least a plurality of peripheral units.

13. A device according to claim 10 , wherein said measuring means of said tank weight comprises at least one load cell integrated in a support foot of a base of said tank.

14. A device according to claim 10 , wherein said remote control means uses general packet radio service (GPRS) or transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) technologies to send data to a web portal.

15. A device according to claim 10 , wherein said weight includes a weight of each and every component of said apparatus.

16. A device according to claim 10 , wherein said weight does not include a weight of a portion of said apparatus at a dispensing location of said apparatus.

17. An apparatus for dispensing fluid or creamy food products, the apparatus comprising:

a tank for containing a product to be dispensed;

a heat treatment means of the product contained inside said tank;

a mixing device for continuous circulation of said product inside said tank;

a dispensing device of said product frontally associated with said tank;

a device for controlling the apparatus, the device comprising:

a measuring means for measuring a weight of said entire apparatus;

a processing means for measuring variations in said weight of said entire apparatus with respect to a predetermined reference value and calculating the variations in product weight of said product contained in said apparatus based on said variations in said weight of said entire apparatus;

a remote control means for sending consumed product measurements to an external control unit for managing said apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said measuring means comprises at least one load cell integrated in a support foot of a base of said tank of said apparatus.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said support foot defines a lowermost portion of said apparatus.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein a dispensing location of said apparatus is free of support from any component of said apparatus.