Luigi Lavazza S.p.a

Politecnico Di Torino

Lavazza S.p.a.

Alfredo Vanni

Alberto Cabilli

Luca Bugnano

Elvio Bonisoli

Denis Rotta

Danilo Bolognese

Stefano Tornincasa

Marcello Arcangeli

Marco Mandelli

Giovanni Jacazio

Laura Gastaldi

Massimo Sorli

Marino Reimondo

Francesco Viarizzo

Vittorio Vicentini

A cartridge () containing a dose () of at least one substance, such as powdered coffee, for preparing a liquid product by means of liquid and/or steam introduced at a given temperature into the cartridge () comprises a casing () containing the aforesaid dose () with a side wall () and a bottom wall () through which the liquid product flows out from the cartridge (). The aforesaid bottom wall () has a layered structure with: at least one layer () made of a first compostable material designed to undergo softening and/or melting at a temperature ranging between 70&#xb0; C. and 120&#xb0; C.; and&#x2014;at least one layer () made of a second compostable material that does not undergo appreciable softening and/or melting at said temperature.

Cartridge for preparing a liquid product

The system comprises: The capsules (C) of the aforementioned different types have flanges () of correspondingly different shapes, and the end delimiting part () of the brewing chamber () carries stop members () adapted to be coupled to the flanges () of said different types of capsules (C) when the latter are introduced into the brewing chamber (), so as to allow correspondingly different relative movements of the end delimiting part () relative to the lateral delimiting part () of said chamber ().

System for the preparation of beverages

A capsule () including a casing () having first and second end walls () spaced one from the other and interconnected by a lateral wall () having an essentially annular shape, and defining an internal chamber () containing an amount or dose of a substance () for the preparation of a beverage. The casing () has at least one first and at least one second permeable or pierceable wall portion (), acting as inlet and outlet, respectively, for the introduction of a flow of water into said chamber () and the outflow of the beverage from said chamber (), respectively. An inlet wall portion () for the introduction of water into the chamber () is provided in the annular lateral wall ().

Capsule, machine, system and method for preparing beverage, particularly espresso coffee

The gripper device () comprises a pair of opposite movable jaws () having respective coordinated gripping profiles () intended to cooperate with corresponding predetermined portions of the lateral surface of a capsule (C) of a first predetermined type so as to define a retaining position for such a capsule (C) in which the capsule (C) is essentially coaxial with a predetermined reference direction (R-R). The jaws () are able to assume a relative rest or standby position in which they are close together and inlet portions thereof () are capable of being splayed and passed beyond by a capsule (C) introduced into the machine (), so as to allow said capsule (C) to be positioned and gripped between the gripping profiles () in the retaining position. Moreover, the jaws (), adjacent to said coordinated gripping profiles (), have respective further coordinated gripping profiles () able to cooperate with corresponding predetermined portions of the lateral surface of a capsule (CX) of a further and different type able to be introduced into the machine as well as to splay and pass beyond the inlet portions () of the jaws (). These further coordinated profiles () are shaped and/or arranged such that they are capable of defining, for a capsule (CX) of the further type, a corresponding retaining position in which the capsule (CX) of the further type is axially offset by a predetermined amount (&#x394;) with respect to the predetermined reference direction (R-R).

Gripper retention device for a capsule or the like in a machine for the preparation of beverages, in particular espresso coffee

A system and machine for the preparation of beverages using capsules which includes a perforation device having an annular perforation member which, in the closed condition of the infusion chamber, extends into the interspace and is designed to cause a tear in the protruding portion of the wall of the capsule contained inside the chamber, such that a flow of pressurized water can be introduced into the capsule through the interspace or gap and the tear.

System and machine for the preparation of beverages using capsules

A machine for preparing coffee, including a brewing chamber; a water supply for supplying a flow of water to the brewing chamber; and an adaptive flow control device for the flow of water, positioned in series with the water supply and the brewing chamber.

Adaptive flow control device for a flow of a liquid, in particular for use in a coffee-making machine

A device for preparing beverages, such as coffee, via a substance contained in a cartridge (C) comprises:&#x2014;a supporting structure (); and&#x2014;a cartridge-holder moving element () having a distal cartridge-holder portion (), the moving element () being supported on the supporting structure () for rotation about an axis (X) between a first angular position and a second angular position and for translation with respect to said axis (X) between a proximal position and a distal position. A link () is provided, such as an oscillating arm, which constrains the cartridge-holder moving element () and the supporting structure () so that the cartridge-holder moving element () is mobile between a condition of loading of the cartridge (C) and a condition of preparation of the beverage as a result of simultaneous movements of rotation and translation with respect to the aforesaid axis (X).

Device for preparing beverages and related process

A cartridge () for preparing a liquid product, for example a beverage such as coffee by introducing liquid and/or steam into the cartridge () contains a dose () of at least one substance, such as for example powdered coffee, which is able to form the aforesaid product using said liquid and/or steam. The dose is enclosed between foils () that can be traversed by the aforesaid liquid and/or steam, said foils () being connected together around the dose (). The aforesaid foils () are made of compostable material, i.e., a material that can be recovered by composting and biodegradation, and are connected together around the dose () using a connecting material (), which is also compostable. The cartridge as a whole can hence be recovered by composting and biodegradation, in compliance with the European Norm UNI EN 13432:2002 and/or subsequent modifications and integrations thereof.

A hot-beverage-making apparatus, in particular for milk beverages such as cappuccino, chocolate and the like, comprising a container extending along an axis, a lid closing the container, a rotary mechanical stirrer fitted with an impeller, and a steam wand connectable to a steam source and having an end steam outlet. The stirrer and the wand extend, sloping with respect to each other, inside the container, and the end steam outlet of the wand is located above and radially eccentric with respect to the impeller of the stirrer.

Hot-beverage-making apparatus, in particular for milk beverages such as cappuccino, chocolate and the like

The cartridge-holder assembly () comprises a cup-shaped body () in which there are formed In said duct () there is provided a control valve device (-) including

Cartridge-holder assembly, and cartridge for the preparation of a beverage, particularly coffee

The capsule () comprises a cup body (), with a bottom wall () on which is a separating structure () with a plurality of spokes (), defined between which are corresponding interspaces (). The bottom wall () has in its central portion a plurality of drink exit openings () which are not aligned with the slopes (). A first filter sheet () is arranged on the separating structure () in such a way that a plurality of brewing chambers is defined between the first filter sheet (), the spoked structure () and the bottom wall (). A quantity of powdered or granular material (), especially roast ground coffee, is placed in the body () on the filter sheet (). The second sheet () of filter material is applied to a top outer edge of said body (). In use, the pressure of the fluid injected into the capsule () deforms the first filter sheet () in such a way that it moves towards the bottom wall () through the interspaces () between the spokes (), while defining, along the opposite edges of each spoke (), respective essentially radial channels or passages () for the drink to flow towards the openings () in the bottom wall ().

Capsule for the preparation of a beverage and capsule-holding unit for use therewith

A machine having a support structure with a hot-water dispensing head, a capsule-carrying assembly which is mounted so as to be movable in a first plane in the support structure. The machine further including a guide means suitable for allowing the capsule-carrying assembly to move between a working position in which the assembly is coupled with the dispensing head and an intermediate position in which the assembly can pivot about a first axis perpendicular to the first plane, towards an angular loading position in which it can receive a capsule. The machine also having an actuating device which includes an actuator member which is rotatable about a second fixed axis and can bring about the movement thereof between the working position and the loading position.

Machine for preparing beverages by infusion of a product contained in a capsule or the like

A capsule () sealed without an internal filter. The capsule includes a cup-shaped body () with an outwardly projecting flange (), and a flexible lid () welded to the flange () to define with the latter a sealed chamber () which is impermeable to oxygen and moisture and contains a quantity of granular material (). The granular material () is first compressed inside the chamber () in a direction perpendicular to the plane containing the flange (), with a compressive load preferably of between 2 and 50 Kg per cmof the average cross-sectional area of the chamber (), so as to form a compact tablet () of the material. A vacuum is formed inside the chamber () to a degree such that the lid () adheres to the upper surface of the tablet ().

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Magliolo, Italy

Alfredo Vanni