Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Didier Vuagniaux

Matthieu Ozanne

Gilles Gerber

Alexandre Kollep

Christian Talon

Jean-Luc Thuliez

Thierry Robert

Olivier Martin

Remo Dunki

Alex Eisenbart

Reto Markus ZÜRCHER

Cédric Beausire

Rémo Dunki

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the internal volume of the container), and a beverage dispensing position (fluid processing body at least partially withdrawn from the internal volume of the container).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

The invention concerns beverage production system comprising a capsule () and a module () for producing a beverage from the capsule, the capsule () comprising an enclosure () and a rim (), and the module () comprising a first capsule engagement member (), which can be displaced relative to a second, co-operating capsule engagement member () between a capsule discharge position and a beverage production position, and the displaceable first capsule engagement member () comprises holding means configured for holding the capsule within, the module comprising at least two means () for engaging the rim of the capsule extending beyond the first capsule engagement member when the first capsule engagement member () is displaced from the beverage production position to its capsule discharge position, and wherein the holding means are discrete hooks () configured to engage with the rim () of the capsule, and the retaining means are configured so that, during the displacement of the first capsule engagement member () from the beverage production position to its capsule discharge position, one () of the two engaging means engages the rim of the capsule before the other engaging mean ().

Beverage production system using capsules

The invention concerns a beverage production machine designed for producing a beverage from a capsule comprising a module () for introducing the capsule in the machine, positioning the capsule for the beverage preparation and ejecting the capsule, said module comprising:&#x2014;a housing () having two lateral walls () and rear and front ends (),&#x2014;a capsule engagement member (),&#x2014;an actuator () comprising a handle (), wherein:&#x2014;each of the lateral walls of the housing comprises a guiding curve (),&#x2014;the capsule engagement member comprises two lateral guiding pins (), each of the lateral guiding pins cooperating with one of the guiding curves () of the housing lateral walls,&#x2014;the actuator comprises: a fixed axis (), the actuator being able to rotate around said fixed axis, two lateral walls () joining the rear end () of the actuator handle to the fixed axis (), each of said lateral walls comprising a guiding curve () cooperating with the lateral guiding pins () of the capsule engagement member.

Beverage production machine using capsules

A kit includes at least a capsule for insertion in a beverage production machine and containing beverage ingredients, the capsule having a cup-like base body including an outlet face. The kit includes one or more beverage production parameter programming connector(s) having an identification member placed on a first side of the connector designed for representing individual information as to beverage production parameters upon mechanical contact by sensing means of a beverage production machine, the side being opposite to the second connector side designed for connection to the outlet face of the capsule. Either the capsule(s) or the connector(s) or the both is provided with means for mechanically associating the connector to the capsule by the consumer, preferably without using tools.

Programming connector for beverage capsules, beverage capsules and kit of capsules and programming connectors

The invention relates to a method for preparing a beverage through a capsule inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule comprising an enclosure containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure to brew the one or more beverage ingredients, characterized in that: a discharge wall is placed in association with the enclosure, wherein the discharge wall comprises a discharge member that restrains the brewed liquid from being discharged from the capsule or limits the liquid flow in case the pressure inside the enclosure is below a predetermined value, and the discharge member enables the delivery of the brewed liquid in case the pressure exceeds the predetermined value.

Method for preparing a beverage from a capsule

The invention relates to a method for preparing a beverage through a capsule () inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule () comprising an enclosure () containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure () to brew said one or more beverage ingredients, characterized in that: a discharge wall (B,) is placed in association with the enclosure (), wherein the discharge wall () comprises discharge means () which restrain the brewed liquid from being discharged from the capsule () or limit the liquid flow in case the pressure inside the enclosure () is below a predetermined value, and the discharge means () enable the delivery of the brewed liquid in case the pressure exceeds said predetermined value.

Method for preparing a beverage from a capsule, capsule and beverage preparing system

The present invention is directed to a check valve, an injection assembly, and a beverage preparation machine, which is integrated in the injection assembly. The check valveof the present invention is made of a body with a first fluid outlet, and a plug memberthat is movable inside the body. The plug memberhas a fluid inletand a second fluid outletinto a first cavity, wherein the fluid can exercise a pressure on a first surfaceof the plug memberopposing the first fluid outlet. The fluid pressure can overcome the force of an elastic element, which biases the plug memberinto a closed position. If the force of the elastic memberis overcome, the plug memberis moved into an open position. In the closed position a fluid path from the cavityout of the first fluid outletis closed, whereas in the open position said fluid path is open. To move the plug memberfrom its initial closed position to its open position, a fluid pressure on the first surface has to be equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold.

Check valve, injection assembly, and beverage preparation machine

The present invention proposes a kit, comprising:&#x2014;at least a capsule () for insertion in a beverage production machine and containing beverage ingredients, the capsule having a cup-like base body () comprising an outlet face (), and&#x2014;one or more beverage production parameter programming connector(s) () comprising an identification member () placed on a first side () of the connector designed for representing individual information as to beverage production parameters upon mechanical contact by sensing means () of a beverage production machine (), said side being opposite to the second connector side () designed for connection to the outlet face () of the capsule, wherein either the capsule(s) () or the connector(s) () or the both is provided with means for mechanically associating the connector() to the capsule () by the consumer, preferably without using tools.

The invention concerns a beverage production system comprising a capsule () and a module () for producing a beverage from the capsule, the capsule () comprising an enclosure () and a rim (), and the module () comprising: a first capsule engagement member (), which can be displaced relative to a second, co-operating capsule engagement member () between a capsule discharge position and a beverage production position, the displaceable first capsule engagement member () comprising member () having the shape of a hollow bell, and the capsule () presenting an enclosure outer shape that is conformal to at least a portion of the hollow bell shaped member () and the capsule presenting a rim () size such that at least a part of the rim of the capsule extends beyond at least a part of the first capsule engagement member () once it is engaged in the first capsule engagement member, wherein the displaceable first capsule engagement member () comprises retaining means able to create friction with discrete parts of the outer shape of the enclosure () of the capsule, and wherein the module () comprises means for engaging the rim () of the capsule extending beyond the first capsule engagement member when the first capsule engagement member () is displaced from the beverage production position to its opened capsule-insertion position.

The invention concerns a beverage production system comprising beverage ingredient containing capsules () comprising an identification member () and a beverage production machine for receiving said capsules, said machine comprising contact means () for physically contacting the capsule identification member () in order to read information thereof and control means connected to the contact means and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine () in response to the read information, the contact means () comprising:&#x2014;at least one displaceable probe () which mechanically contacts the capsule identification member (),&#x2014;a resilient support member () in contact with the probe on one side and associated to a circuitry () on its other side, wherein the part of the resilient support member in contact with the probe presents such a shape that it is able to deform itself when the probe applies a force on it, the deformation being partially transversal to the direction applied by the force.

Identification of beverage ingredient containing capsules

The invention concerns a beverage production system comprising beverage ingredient containing capsules () comprising an identification member () and a beverage production machine for receiving said capsules, said machine comprising:&#x2014;contact means () for physically contacting the capsule identification member () in order to read information thereof and&#x2014;control means connected to the contact means and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine () in response to the read information, the contact means () comprising:&#x2014;at least one displaceable probe () which mechanically contacts the capsule identification member (),&#x2014;a resilient support member () in contact with the probe on one side and associated to a circuitry () on its other side, the parts of said resilient support member in contact with the probe presenting a shape able to be deformed,&#x2014;discrete conductive parts () between the resilient support member () and the circuitry (), wherein the contact means () comprises a waterproof material layer () between the resilient support member () and the discrete conductive parts ().

The invention proposes a system comprising a beverage preparation device () and a capsule () for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a compartment () of the capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule, the beverage preparation device () having opening means () which are designed to interact with a wall member () provided at an outlet face () of the capsule (), wherein the opening means () comprise an opening member () having a hook-like shape designed to shear and move away at least a portion of a cover () sealed to the outlet face () of the capsule.

Opening means for a capsule-based beverage preparation device

A beverage production device comprises a beverage production chamber designed to have a liquid interact with a beverage ingredient contained in a capsule, a liquid supply member for supplying liquid to the beverage production chamber, a heating member provided in the liquid supply member for heating the liquid, and an air separating compartment provided in the liquid supply member after the heating member for separating any air or other gas contained in the liquid. The air separating compartment comprises an inlet for introducing liquid into the air separating compartment, a member for breaking the kinetic energy of the liquid introduced through the inlet, a liquid outlet for evacuating liquid from the air separating compartment, and an air outlet for evacuating air from the air separating compartment.

Growing community of inventors

Gimel, Switzerland

Didier Vuagniaux