Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Gilles Gavillet

Alexandre Kollep

Peter Möri

Renzo Moser

Alfred Yoakim

Stefan Etter

Thomas Hodel

Peter Preisig

Robin Schwab

Jean-Paul Denisart

Urs Gaudenz

Peter Moeri

Youcef Ait Bouziad

Fabien Ludovic Agon

Christian Jarisch

Frederic Doleac

Nicolas Camier

Frédéric Doleac

Michael Meier

Rudolf Schenk

Markus Lang

Lionel Peretti

Leo Bühler

Frank Schnyder

Steve Aemisegger

Guido Bambagioni

Gautier Montvenoux

Isabelle Huynh

Jürgen Kristlbauer

Jean-Claude Gille

Rainer Maisch

The invention pertains to the field of the beverage preparation machines having an ingredient processing module for preparing a beverage with at least one ingredient supplied with a capsule. The machine comprises a positioner arranged to hold at least one capsule out of the ingredient processing module. It further comprises a sensing arrangement adapted to detect an event related to the insertion by a user of a capsule and/or the presence of the capsule on or into the positioner. The machine is configured, upon detection of the event, to transfer the capsule to the ingredient processing module by using transfer means, and then to start the preparation of the beverage. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine providing a convenient and safe solution to fully automate the preparation of a beverage.

Automatic beverage machine

The invention relates to a capsule () for the preparation of a beverage by extracting the substance in a beverage preparation device, comprising: —an aluminium capsule body () with a bottom, a side wall () and an outwardly extending flange (), —a cover () attached to the outwardly extending flange () and, —a sealing member () at the outwardly extending flange () for providing a water sealing contact with an enclosing member of the beverage preparation device; wherein the sealing member () comprises at least one annular layer of polymeric material positioned on the outwardly extending flange wherein in use in the device, the sealing member is compressed and wherein the outwardly extending flange () comprises an annular recess () with an annular bottom wall (), and an inner projecting wall () and an outer projecting wall (), both projecting walls () extending in a direction towards the bottom of the capsule body and wherein the annular layer of polymeric material () is entirely contained in the annular recess ().

Capsule and system for preparing a beverage from such capsule with a seal member

A beverage preparation machine () has: a water circuit () for guiding water () from a source (); and a mixing unit () fluidically connected to the water circuit () and to a beverage outlet () for dispensing to a consumer cup or mug () a beverage () formed in the mixing unit (). The mixing unit () has a first module () and a second module () that are relatively movable from: a distant configuration for inserting an ingredient between the first and second modules (); to a proximate position for combining such ingredient with water () supplied by the water circuit () so as to form the beverage (). The machine has: a further unit () fluidically connected to the water circuit () and to an outlet () for dispensing to a consumer cup or mug water () supplied by the water circuit (); and a water directing device () fluidically connected to the water circuit (), to the mixing unit () and to the further unit (). The directing device () has one or more valves () that is/are actuated by the relatively moving first and/or second modules () and that can be opened and closed for controlling a flow of water () from the water circuit () selectively to the mixing unit () or to the further unit ().

Dispenser with parallel dispensing paths

A cartridge dispenser () has: a receptacle () delimiting a cavity (') for storing cartridges (); a cartridge outlet () for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from said cartridges (), the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; and a cartridge transfer device () for transferring cartridges () from the cavity (&#x2032;) to the cartridge outlet (). The cavity (&#x2032;) is so dimensioned that cartridges () can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations. The transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges () to the outlet () via an orientation-discrimination passage () which ensures that the cartridges () are delivered one at the time to the outlet () and that each cartridge () that is delivered to the outlet () is in the predetermined orientation at the outlet ().

Capsule dispensing device

A liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes a fluid arrangement and a printed circuit board for controlling one or more functions of the fluid arrangement, with the printed circuit board being enclosed within a substantially impervious housing to protect the printed circuit board from fluid or vapor emissions from the fluid arrangement.

Heating device with an integrated thermoblock for a beverage preparation machine

A combination of a flow meter and printed circuit board or flex-print for a liquid food or a beverage preparation machine, which board or flex-print is rigidly connected to the flow meter. This combination is used in a liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes an in-line heating device in which machine liquid is circulated through the heating device and then guided into a brewing chamber that includes a capsule or pod housing for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into the brewing chamber.

A beverage preparation machine () comprises: a beverage preparation module (); a removable reservoir () assembled to the beverage preparation module and disassemblable therefrom for removal; and a lid () for covering the reservoir. The lid has a fastening arrangement () for securing the reservoir against the beverage preparation module when the reservoir is assembled to the module.

Beverage machine with removable liquid supply reservoir

A beverage preparation machine () comprises: a beverage preparation module () that vibrates during use, in particular a module for preparing a beverage by circulating a liquid via a flavoring ingredient such a pre-portioned ingredient contained in a capsule; and a reservoir () for storing liquid and supplying such liquid to the beverage preparation module. The beverage preparation module and the reservoir are connected by a vibration-barrier mechanical connection () for inhibiting or preventing propagation of vibrations from the beverage preparation module to the reservoir.

Vibration proof water tank of a beverage machine

A liquid food of beverage preparation machine that includes an electric supply circuit connectable to an electric power source; a heater powered by the electric supply circuit; and a thermal fuse device in thermal communication with the heater and associated with the electric supply circuit, the fuse device being arranged to interrupt the electric supply circuit from the power source when the heater exceeds a temperature limit. The thermal fuse device is reversible and includes a switch for automatically interrupting the electric supply circuit when the heater exceeds the temperature limit, the switch being operable by a user to close the electric supply circuit when the heater has a temperature that has returned below the temperature limit.

An in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which machine liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into said brewing chamber. The heater has a body incorporating an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween, with the inlet, outlet and heating chamber forming together a rigid passage for guiding the liquid circulating through the body, and one or more electric components that are secured on or in the body and connected to a printed circuit board arranged to control the heater. The one or more electric components are rigidly connected to the printed circuit board.

Integrated heater for a beverage preparation device

The invention relates to a beverage machine that includes a brewing unit which can be opened for introducing or removing an ingredient capsule and closed for brewing a beverage from the ingredient capsule; a passage having an opening and which is arranged for guiding the ingredient capsule from the passage opening into the brewing unit; and a closing part for closing the passage opening when the brewing unit is closed. The closing part is relatively movable over the passage opening with a generally parallel relative movement thereto from an open relative position in which the ingredient capsule can be passed into the brewing unit via the passage to a closed relative position, in which the passage opening is closed by the closure member. The closing part optionally extends over edges of the passage opening.

Beverage brewing unit

A device and method for warming a cup in a machine for preparing a hot drink or beverage involving transmitting by conduction a part of the surface heat of the heating body to a cup holder. The heating body is also used to heat water in the machine. The device and method also at least partially dampen a vibration transmissible by the heating body to the surface of the cup holder.

Drink preparing machine with holding and warming device

A machine for preparing a beverage having a main body containing a brewing unit and a handle movable relative to the main body, so as to act on the brewing unit to open the brewing unit for introduction or removal of an ingredient into and from the unit, and act to close the brewing unit for extraction of such ingredient within the unit. The movable handle has a gripping part and is arranged to be drivable by a human hand. The main body and the movable handle are so connected and configured that the gripping part has a carrying position in which the gripping part is seizable by the human hand for safe lifting and single-handed displacing of the machine.

Beverage machine with carrying handle and configurable appearance and side functions

A process for manufacturing a beverage preparation machine by providing a group of interconnected components which include a brewing unit for receiving a beverage ingredient beverage and a liquid; an in-line heater for the liquid; a pump; one or more fluid connecting members; an electric control unit for receiving instructions from a user via an interface and for controlling the heater and pump; and one or more electric sensors for sensing at least one operational characteristic of the brewing unit, the heater, the pump, a liquid reservoir, an ingredient collector, a flow of the liquid, a pressure of the liquid and a temperature of the liquid and for communicating the characteristic(s) to the control unit. At least two or three modules, each containing at least two components, are preassembled such that the components are automatically seizable, orientable, positionable and fully connectable to each other.

Growing community of inventors

Ursy, Switzerland

Gilles Gavillet