Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Nestec S.a.

Christophe Sebastien Paul Heydel

Christian Talon

Christian Jarisch

Alfred Yoakim

Jean-Luc Denisart

Enzo Bonacci

Andre Noth

David Nordqvist

Nicolas Gres

Nicolas Jean-Guy Bezet

Jean Pacault

The present invention relates to a capsule () for preparing a beverage, which comprises a capsule body (), which delimits a closed chamber () for enclosing a substance for the preparation of the beverage by injecting a fluid into the chamber (). The capsule body () comprises a retaining wall () delimiting a part of the chamber (). The capsule () further comprises an opening device () for opening the closed chamber (). Therein, the opening device () and the retaining wall () are provided with respect to each other such that engagement between the retaining wall () and the opening device () is performed under the effect of pressure of the injected fluid rising in the closed chamber () to open the closed chamber (). The capsule body () with its retaining wall () as well as the opening device () are all made of a biodegradable material. The invention relates also to a method for constructing and manufacturing the capsule ().

Biodegradable capsule with integrated opening means

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

A manufacturing process for producing hermetic single-use food containers includes: forming a 3D container body having a peripheral upper rim by stamping a 2D blank in a press, the 2D blank including a rim portion and a wall portion; applying a closing lid over the 3D container body and sealing the closing lid with the rim. The manufacturing process is characterized in that it comprises a creasing step before forming the 3D container body, where creases are formed in a peripheral zone of the 2D blank by creasing or embossing the 2D blank with a creasing or embossing plate, the thus pre-creased peripheral zone covering at least a part of the rim portion of the 2D blank.

Manufacturing process for producing hermetic single-use food containers such as coffee pods, including a creasing step

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 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

The invention relates to a capsule () designed for food or beverage preparation, the capsule () comprising a cup-shaped base body (), a top wall () and a bottom retaining wall () for holding food or beverage preparation ingredients, wherein the base body () is made of one single injection-molded piece and wherein a side wall () of the base body comprises at least one co-injected multilayer section () having two outer layers () being made from a different polymeric material than a core layer (), and wherein the base body () further comprises a bottom structure () which is integrally molded with the side wall () and comprising opening means () allowing the capsule to be opened at the time of its use.

Closed capsule with opening means and integral barrier layer

The present invention concerns a capsule () containing a beverage ingredient, adapted to be functionally inserted in a food preparation machine (), said capsule comprising walls () that define a cavity wherein said beverage is prepared by mixing said ingredient with a fluid injected therein under pressure by said machine, said capsule further comprising a dispensing opening (), and opening means that open upon effect of the rise of pressure within said cavity, characterized in that said opening means comprise a flow-conducting channel () able to connect the capsule cavity to the dispensing opening () and a spring-mounted piston plug () that is movable in said channel between: (i) a closed position where said cavity pressure is below a first predetermined pressure Pc, the piston spring () is at rest, and the piston plug () seals against a sealing portion () of the channel walls, (ii) a dispensing position where said cavity pressure is equal or superior to Pc, the piston spring () is elastically deformed and the piston plug () is moved away from the channel walls so that beverage can flow outside of said capsule through said channel ().

Growing community of inventors

Chez-le-Bart, Switzerland

Christophe Sebastien Paul Heydel