Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Nestec S.a.

Eric Granger

Antoine Cahen

Blaise Rithener

Pietro Mazza

Da Mi Byun

Guido Piai

Christian Probst

Ioannis Argyris

A machine () comprises a tank () having a cavity (') for containing and processing a liquid food substance, such as milk or a milk-based substance. A stirring tool () is provided in the cavity () for imparting a mechanical effect on the food substance. A base () supports the tank (). The base () has an upright outside gripping surface () located under the tank () and seizable by an adult human hand such that the base () with the supported tank () can be carried and displaced single-handed by seizure of the upright outside gripping surface (). The tank () extends horizontally beyond the gripping surface ().

Handy large processing jug

A beverage preparation machine () comprising a thermal conditioning device (), such as a heater or cooler, said thermal conditioning device () comprising a control unit () for controlling a start-up phase of the thermal conditioning device () from a temperature of inactivity to an operative temperature, the control unit () comprising: a controller with a start-up profile for starting-up the thermal conditioning device (), wherein the start-up profile has at least one parameter and the controller has a self-learning mode for adjusting the at least one parameter; and a temperature sensor connected to the controller for measuring a temperature of the thermal conditioning device (); wherein the self-learning mode causes the controller during a start-up phase to: calculate a ramp value representative of a rate of change in temperature during the start-up phase of the thermal conditioning device; adjust the at least one parameter as a function of the adjusted ramp value; use the adjusted at least one parameter for a remainder of the start-up phase. A method for operating and calibrating the thermal conditioning device of such a beverage preparation machine.

Beverage preparation machine and method for the control of a thermal conditioning device of such a beverage preparation machine

A beverage machine () has: a beverage processing module () with a liquid inlet () and a module fastening arrangement (); and a liquid supply tank () with a liquid outlet () and a tank fastening arrangement (). The outlet () is fluidically connectable to the inlet () and disconnectable therefrom. The fastening arrangements () comprises a female connector () and a male connector () cooperating with the female connector () for reversibly assembling the module () and the tank (). The fastening arrangements () further comprise at least one pair of a support surface () and a resilient member () cooperating together for urging the male connector () into the female connector () so as to fasten the tank () to the module.

Easy connection of a liquid tank to a beverage machine

A beverage preparation machine () comprises: a beverage preparation module () having a front face () with an outlet () for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support () located under the outlet () for placing a cup () under the outlet (). The cup support () comprises a liquid collection receptacle () supporting a removable cup placement platform () that has a peripheral part (). The collection receptacle () is delimited by at least one upright peripheral sidewall () forming a seat (') for placing the platform (). The peripheral part () extends over and above the peripheral sidewall () when the platform () is placed in the seat (&#x2032;) so that the platform () is seizable at the peripheral part () adjacent the peripheral sidewall () by a user-hand for removing the platform () from the receptacle ().

Removable cup support platform on collector receptacle

A beverage preparation machine () comprises: a beverage preparation module () having a front face () with an outlet () for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support () located under the outlet () for placing a cup () under the outlet (). The cup support () has a rear face () removably assembled to the front face () by a mechanical connector arrangement () that comprises a front hook () on the front face () disassemblable from a corresponding rear hook () on the rear face (). The rear hook () has a retaining element () and the front hook () has a retaining element (), the retaining elements () being mutually engaged when the cup support () is assembled to the front face () and disengaged when the cup support () is disassembled from the front face (). The retaining element () of the rear hook () extends generally in parallel to the rear face () and the retaining element () of the front hook () extends generally in parallel to the front face (), so that the rear face () and the front face () are relatively slid in parallel one over another to move the retaining elements (): together from disengagement into mutual engagement to assemble the rear face () to the front face (); and apart from mutual engagement into disengagement to disassemble the rear face () from the front face ().

Beverage machine with slidingly connectable cup-support

An apparatus () for conditioning a food substance, such as milk or a milk-containing substance, comprises: &#x2014;a food conditioning module () that has a structure () for holding such food substance and that has an electric device () comprising a conditioner () for imparting a conditioning effect to such food substance and a conditioner control unit () for controlling the conditioner; and &#x2014;a user-interface device () in data-communication with the conditioner control unit to transmit user-data from the user-interface device to the control unit for controlling the conditioner accordingly. The user-interface device () is external to the food conditioning module () and disconnectably connected thereto.

Remote controlled food processor

A machine () for dispensing a beverage () has: a service arrangement (); and a movable support () for supporting a user-recipient () in a position for collecting the beverage. The support has: an unlocking position for giving user-access to the service arrangement for servicing; and a locking position for preventing user-access to the service arrangement for servicing.

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Lausanne, Switzerland

Eric Granger