Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.v.

Bram Klabbers

Hendrik Johan Dees

Koen Standaar

Mathias Antonius Fransiscus Rutten

Leonardus Cornelis Van Der Velden

Antonius Johannes Spijker

Leonardus Henricus Wilhelmus Giesen

Wouter Plechelmus Bernardus Nijland

Stuart Michael Ruan Jones

Craig Harvey Nelson

Carys Eleri Lloyd

Mathias Antonius Rutten

Wouter Plechelmus Nijland

Leonardus Henricus Giesen

Stuart Michael Jones

A selection valve for a beverage preparation machine comprises a valve body with a hot water inlet, an air inlet, and at least a first outlet. A selector member is movably mounted relative to the valve body for movement between a first position in which the hot water inlet is in fluid communication with the at least first outlet, and a second position in which both the hot water inlet and the air inlet are in fluid communication with the at least first outlet. A satellite element has a predefined limited amount of free relative movement relative to the selector member for allowing the satellite element to be independently positioned between the first and second positions of the selector member.

Selection valve and beverage system including same

The beverage preparation unit comprises a mixing chamber having a beverage outlet, a liquid flow path for supplying a liquid to the mixing chamber, and an air flow path for supplying air to the liquid flow path. The mixing chamber is arranged for receiving a beverage related ingredient, such as concentrate, preferably from an exchangeable supply pack. The liquid flow path is arranged for generating a hollow jet of liquid having an outer liquid portion extending in a flow direction of the jet and an inner air portion extending in a flow direction of the jet wherein the outer liquid portion surrounds the inner air portion.

Unit, device and system for preparing beverage consumptions

A system for automated detection in beverage dispensing machines suitable for receiving at least a first and second type of exchangeable supply pack adapted to contain a product to be supplied in the operation of the system equipped with means for automatically performing presence of supply detection. More particularly, the detection of the presence and the contents of exchangeable supply packs in beverage dispensing machines is automated. A pack-in-place detection is provided by emitting light and measuring the presence of the emitted light on one light detector, the system determines the absence or the correct/incorrect placement of the supply pack. A product availability detection is provided by detecting the intensity of light coming through a transparent element in the first type of supply pack by another light detector, the system identifies the degree of product presence in the first type of supply pack, while with the second type of supply pack the product availability is not detected and assumed to be available.

System for automated detection in beverage dispensing machines

System for preparing beverage consumptions comprising a beverage preparation device, and at least one exchangeable supply pack. The beverage preparation device comprises a mixing chamber having a beverage outlet, liquid supply means including a liquid flow path for supplying a liquid to the mixing chamber; air supply means for supplying air to the liquid flow path, and a drive shaft. The at least one exchangeable supply pack includes a container for holding a beverage related ingredient, and a doser arranged for supplying the beverage related ingredient in a dosed manner. The exchangeable pack and the device are mechanically connectable. When connected the doser is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and the drive shaft is arranged for transmitting torque to the doser, such that when activated, beverage related ingredient is supplied from the outlet of the doser into the mixing chamber.

System for preparing beverage consumptions

A ceramic valve unit for a beverage machine including a housing, a water inlet pipe for receiving hot water, an outflow opening, and first and second ceramic elements within the housing. The first and second ceramic elements each have mutually abutting surfaces and are relatively movable in a plane common to the abutting surfaces. The plane common to the abutting surfaces is downstream of the water inlet pipe and the first ceramic element, but upstream of the second ceramic element and the outflow opening. The first ceramic element has at least differently sized first and second openings for allowing a liquid flow there through. The second ceramic element has only a single liquid flow opening permanently aligned with the outflow opening. The first ceramic element is selectively slidable between at least first and second different positions preferably in a path of movement about a centre of rotation beyond the boundaries of the first ceramic element.

Ceramic valve unit for a beverage machine

A method for taking into use an exchangeable supply pack in a beverage dispensing machine is disclosed. The exchangeable supply pack comprising a dosing pump and a container with a liquid substance to be supplied by the beverage dispensing machine. The method subsequently comprises detecting placement of the exchangeable supply pack and executing an activation procedure. The activation procedure comprises repeating an activation cycle while detecting whether or not a liquid substance is present inside the dosing pump. The activation cycle comprises activating the dosing pump during a first period of time and at least partially deactivating the dosing pump during a second period of time. The activation procedure is completed when it is detected that liquid substance is present in the dosing pump. In addition a beverage dispensing system and a computer program product are disclosed herein.

Method for taking into use an exchangeable supply pack in a beverage dispensing machine and system comprising an exchangeable supply pack and computer program product

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Utrecht, Netherlands

Bram Klabbers