Abstract:
A machine for preparing liquid food or beverage includes: a liquid food or beverage module (2) having a liquid or beverage outlet (95); a support device (6) that is located under the beverage outlet and that has an arrangement for evacuating liquid; and a collector (6a), such as drip tray, for collecting liquid evacuated by the support device. The support device (6) comprises a dispensing area (61) on or above which a recipient (30, 31) may be placed for collecting a liquid food or beverage dispensed from the outlet. The support device further comprises a non-dispensing area (62) adjacent to the dispensing area, the non-dispensing area being arranged to support recipients upon use and for evacuating liquid to the collector.
Abstract:
An integrated in-line heater (1,8,9) for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which liquid is circulated through said heater and then guided into a brewing chamber (7) for brewing a food or beverage ingredient, for instance within a pod or capsule (7''), supplied into the brewing chamber. An upstream part of the brewing chamber may be formed by the heater. One or more electric components (5,60,70,75) may be incorporated into the heater and rigidly connected to a printed circuit board (50). The heater may have a tubular inner core (9) that is eccentric with respect to a tubular or prismatic outer member (8) which form together a helicoidal heating chamber (4) of variable cross-section (4',4').
Abstract:
Pumping system (100) for a beverage preparation device comprising a reservoir (10) for storing a liquid; pumping means (30) for pumping the liquid from the reservoir (10) to a beverage preparation means (50) of the beverage preparation device; and pressurizing means (20) for injecting air in the system (100); wherein the pumping system (100) further comprises one motor (40) driving both the pumping means (30) and the pressurizing means (20); the system further comprising engaging means (60) configured to engage or disengage the pumping means (30) as a function of the direction of rotation of the motor (40). The invention further refers to a pumping method for use in a beverage preparation device.
Abstract:
An extraction unit of a beverage preparation machine, the extraction unit to extract an ingredient of a beverage from a capsule, the extraction unit comprising: a capsule holder operable to move between a capsule receiving position and a capsule extraction position; a capsule holder loading system operable to actuate the capsule holder between the said positions, the capsule holder loading system comprising an actuator unit and a loading mechanism, the actuator unit to actuate the loading mechanism, wherein the loading mechanism comprises a planetary gear train and a linear actuator, the actuator unit to supply a rotary motion to the planetary gear train, the planetary gear train to gear down the said rotary motion, the linear actuator to: receive the said geared down rotary motion; convert the geared down rotary motion into linear motion; couple the said linear motion to the capsule holder.
Abstract:
An identification device, comprises: a) at least one magnetically-responsive micro-wire (101) suitable for responding to an outside magnetic field; b) a plurality of reinforcing filaments (103), said reinforcing filaments (103) being fabricated from a non-magnetic, insulating material and disposed about one magnetically-responsive micro-wire (101) so as to form a strand (100) therewith; and c) a protective cover member (215), said protective cover member being disposed about said strand (100). Use in a beverage capsule.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an identification device comprising at least one magnetically-responsive micro-wire (21) that is suitable for responding to an outside magnetic field, characterized in that the identification device includes a core member (7) surrounded by a protective cover member (29) and at least one micro-wire (21) being arranged between the core member (7) and the protective cover member (29).
Abstract:
Cartridge sealing adapter (30, 300, 304, 305, 306,330,50, 74) intended to be used in an extraction system for preparing a beverage from a cartridge using fluid injected under pressure and comprising a dished body (14) containing beverage ingredients to be extracted, a beverage delivery foil (15) closing the dished body which can be perforated under the effect of the pressure of fluid within the cartridge, wherein the cartridge sealing adapter is designed for providing a sealing engagement between the extraction system and a cartridge with at least one sealing portion intended to be interposed between a surface of the extraction system and the cartridge. The cartridge adapter can be a rubber-elastic material positioned in solid state or, alternatively as a liquid or viscous material.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a beverage production module (1) comprising a pump (24) for delivering a beverage via a beverage delivery outlet (8) from the beverage production module (1), a graphical interface (2) for accepting a touch input, said graphical interface (2) comprising a pointing means (4) for providing filling level instructions by a touch input on the graphical interface (2) and control means (7) in data communication with the pump (24) and the graphical interface (2) for receiving filling level instructions and controlling the pump (24) accordingly. The present invention further relates to a method for operating a beverage production module.
Abstract:
Method for producing a capsule (1) containing beverage ingredients designed for insertion in a beverage production device in which a liquid under pressure enters the capsule in order to interact with the ingredients in the capsule and to drain a beverage from the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises a body (4) with a sealing member attached thereto. The method comprises providing a body (4) with a main cavity, injecting at least one sealing material by injection-moulding onto at least a portion of the external surface of the body (4) to mould a sealing member (8) sealingly attached to the body, filling the cavity with food ingredients and imperviously closing the cavity with a membrane (5) to provide a closed capsule containing the food ingredients.
Abstract:
The invention proposes a method for producing a beverage from an ingredient-containing capsule. The method comprising the following steps:- inserting a sealed capsule into a capsule enclosure space of a beverage production device, - enclosing the capsule by a relative displacement of at least two enclosing members which define the capsule enclosure space, - opening an inlet face of the capsule and injecting a fluid under pressure into the capsule in order to open an outlet face of the capsule, the opening being assisted by the fluid pressure inside the capsule, wherein the capsule is provided at its outer surface with sealing material which is exposed to the fluid pressure in the capsule enclosure space, and - after enclosing the capsule, having the fluid pressure reigning in the capsule enclosure space at least partially act on the sealing material, such that in turn the sealing material is pressed against one of the enclosing members thus constituting a flow resistance, the flow resistance being sufficient to guarantee a pressure build-up inside the capsule sufficient for the pressure-assisted opening of the outlet face of the capsule.