Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Christian Talon

Jean-Luc Denisart

Enzo Bonacci

HansPeter Pleisch

Christophe Sebastien Paul Heydel

Alfred Yoakim

Christian Jarisch

Samuel Odet

Andre Noth

Alain Meier

Ralph Kugler

Roman Leuzinger

Nicolas Jean-Guy Bezet

Vincent Rognon

Anders Vestreli

Hanspeter Pleisch

Jean-Paul Denisart

Nihan Dogan

Pierre Struzka

Didier Vuagniaux

Laurent Seydoux

Stéphane Pellegrini

Michael Ayoub

Philippe Baenninger

André Noth

Hans Peter Pleisch

Irène Verettas

Xavier Richi

Nicolas Gres

Damien Neurohr

Christophe Heydel

Jean Pacault

Amandine Ribeyrol

Claire Dubesset

Christophe Sébastien Paul Heydel

Anders Bror Vestreli

Hans-Peter Pleisch

Jean Luc Denisart

Elodie Debefve

Beverage preparation machines include a fluid circulation system including a fluid source, a fluid pump, and a fluid circulation conduit; a container holder to receive a corresponding container; and a fluid processing device including a fluid processing body including in turn at least one inlet member for introducing the fluid substance into the container for the preparation of a beverage product by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the container. In further detail, the fluid processing body can include at least one outlet member for dispensing the beverage product from the container and for separately moving the fluid processing device and the container relatively one to another, e.g., between a fluid introduction position (fluid processing body protrudes inside the internal volume of the container), and a beverage dispensing position (fluid processing body at least partially withdrawn from the internal volume of the container).

Beverage preparation machine

A cleaning apparatus for a beverage preparation machine comprises at least one fluid processing device comprising a fluid processing body provided with an outflow portion for the outflow of a cleaning fluid. The fluid processing body comprises at least one of the following means: inlet means for introducing a fluid substance into a container for the preparation of a beverage product by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the container; outlet means for allowing the outflow of the beverage product from the container once the fluid substance is introduced into the container and is mixed with the ingredient. The cleaning apparatus further comprises a cleaning device comprising a cleaning body, which in turn comprises one or more movable elements defining a chamber for housing at least a portion of the fluid processing body, and movement means for moving the one or body are dimensioned and shaped such that, in the active position, the one or more movable elements enclose at least a portion of the fluid processing body in the chamber, such that the cleaning fluid can circulate in a space between the fluid processing body and the one or more movable elements when said cleaning fluid is ejected from the outflow portion of the fluid processing body. In the inactive position the one or more movable elements are moved away from the fluid processing body, such that the fluid processing body and the container can be functionally connected together for the preparation of the beverage product and/or the outflow of the beverage product.

Cleaning apparatus for a beverage preparation machine

A fluid processing device () for a beverage preparation machine is described. The fluid processing device () is configured for processing a fluid substance to be introduced into a container (C) for the preparation of a beverage product by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the container (C). The fluid processing device () comprises a fluid processing body () provided with an inlet portion (). The fluid processing body () comprises in turn at least one inlet means () for introducing the fluid substance into the container (C). The inlet means () is provided at the inlet portion () of the fluid processing body (). The fluid processing body () also comprises an outlet portion () and at least one outlet means () for dispensing the beverage product from the container (C). The outlet means () is provided at the outlet portion () of the fluid processing body (). Preferably, the fluid processing body () is a needle-shaped fluid processing body () comprising at least one end portion () configured for perforating, piercing and/or tearing a specific portion or wall of the container (C) before the introduction of the fluid substance into the container (C).

Fluid-processing device for a beverage preparation machine

The invention relates to a beverage preparation device () for preparing a beverage upon interaction of ingredients provided in a capsule () with liquid supplied thereto, the device comprising an injection module () comprising a first () and a cooperating second enclosing member () designed for being moved relatively to each other, the first enclosing member being equipped with capsule opening and injection means () for opening a first inlet face () of a capsule () and inject liquid into the capsule, the first and second enclosing member () being designed for being brought into at least a first capsule insertion position for inserting a capsule between the enclosing members () and a second capsule enclosing position in which the opening and injection means () engage the liquid inlet face () of the capsule (), the device () further comprising control means () designed for setting at least the capsule enclosing position based on information read from the capsule and/or based on information provided by a user input.

Capsule system with recognition means and adaptable opening and injection mechanism

A beverage preparation machine includes a fluid system comprising a fluid source, a pump, a heating element, at least two container holders adapted for receiving ingredient containers, and a control unit for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers. The control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage. The container holders differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types. Separate fluid injection interfaces have different structural and kinematic configurations and are arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers. Each interface is connected to the fluid system and adapted to a different container.

System for multi-ingredient beverage preparation from various container types

Container for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material comprises a code encoding preparation information, in particular preparation information for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine to prepare a beverage or a foodstuff with beverage or foodstuff material contained in the container, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion. The reference portion comprises at least one reference configuration defining a virtual reference line. The data portion comprises a virtual encoding line intersecting the virtual reference line at a virtual intersection point and a sequence of data units comprising at least two data units aligned at a distance from each other along the virtual encoding line for encoding a sequence of operations of the preparation information. Each data unit of the sequence of data units encodes an operation of the sequence of operations, wherein a relative position of each data unit in the sequence of data units encodes a nature of the encoded operation and wherein a distance between the data unit and the virtual intersection point and/or a distance between the data unit and another data unit of the sequence of data units or of another sequence of data units encodes a value of a condition for the performance of the encoded operation.

Container with a code encoding a sequence of foodstuff or beverage preparation operations

A pack () with an inner volume in which a food or beverage ingredient is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside. The pack () comprises at least one inlet configured to supply water in the inner volume of the pack () and one outlet () for dispensing a beverage from the inner volume of the pack (). The pack () comprises a semi-rigid or rigid shell (), the shell () comprises a main plane wall () surrounded by a peripheral edge (), and a cover part () sealed on the peripheral edge (), the shell () and the cover part () defining therebetween said inner volume.

Semi-rigid sachet for beverage preparation

The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine () comprising a fluid system comprising a fluid source (), a pump (), a heating element (), at least two container holders () adapted for receiving ingredient containers (), a control unit () for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers, wherein the control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage, wherein the container holders () differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types and, and wherein it further comprises separate fluid injection interfaces () having different structural and kinematic configurations, and arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers; each interface being connected to the fluid system and being adapted to a different container.

The invention relates to a cartridge () for preparation of a beverage upon injection of liquid into the cartridge, the cartridge comprising at least a first compartment () and a second compartment () for holding beverage ingredients, an injection area () for receiving a liquid injected into the cartridge, and flow dividing means () designed for providing a fluid communication between the injection area () and the first and second compartment (), wherein the flow dividing means () are designed to provide a preferred flow path for liquid from the injection area () to the first and second compartment [) and to outlet means () of the cartridge.

Cartridge and machine for multi-component beverage preparation

The invention relates to a pack () for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert () and a container () where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, the insert () comprising at least a fluid inlet () configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the pack, the insert () further comprising at least an air conduit () configured to allow introducing air from the exterior of the pack and into the inner volume of the said pack through at least an air nozzle (). The at least one fluid inlet () communicates with a depression chamber () through at least one liquid nozzle () in order to create a jet from a pressurized fluid introduced through the fluid inlet (). The invention further relates to the use of a pack as described for preparing a food or beverage product.

Pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products

A container for food or beverage preparation has walls defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, the walls including at least one fluid connection portion for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion of a food or beverage preparation machine having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within the compartment by mixing the mixing ingredient with the precursor ingredient. The container further includes at least one food or beverage delivery wall, and the container includes built-in pump means suitable for pumping the mixing ingredient from the source when the container is fluidly connected to the machine and for generating a fluid circulation within the at least one compartment, such that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through the delivery wall.

Capsule for beverage preparation

Device for preparing a liquid beverage from a cartridge, comprising a supply unit () for supplying injection fluid to the cartridge (), a cartridge holder () configured to accept and support a cartridge; the said cartridge holder being detachable from the device and complementary insertion means () are configured to allow the cartridge holder to be inserted from its detached position into the supply unit (). The injection means () are provided and form part of the supply unit. The injection means are able to move into engagement. Sealing means () are also provided in association with the injection means in 'order to provide sealing locally between the said injection means and the cartridge.

Device for preparing a liquid beverage from a cartridge

The present invention is directed to a container () for food or beverage preparation, adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient within at least one compartment (), and comprising an injection wall () for coupling to a food or beverage preparation machine () having at least one pressurized source of a mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within said container () by mixing said mixing ingredient with said precursor ingredient, said container () further comprising at least one food or beverage delivery wall (), characterized in that said injection wall () comprises outwardly expandable connection means () suitable for connecting said container () to said mixing ingredient source and establish a fluid communication between said container and said mixing ingredient source.

The present invention is directed to a kit of at least two capsules () each for containing at least one specific food ingredient, the capsules being adapted to be alternatively functionally inserted in the brewing cavity of a food preparation machine () for the preparation of a multi-ingredient food product, characterized in that each capsule in the kit () comprises at least one deformable portion () that is deformed when said capsule is inserted into the machine cavity, and/or when said cavity is closed, so that at least one machine operational parameter is set by detection of the reaction force on the machine cavity by the deformed deformable portion, said kit being further characterized in that different capsules in the kit comprise deformable portions with different predetermined mechanical properties so as to customize the machine brewing functional parameters to each capsule inserted therein.

Growing community of inventors

Vufflens-le-Chateau, Switzerland

Christian Talon