Luigi Lavazza S.p.a

Politecnico Di Torino

Argotec S.r.l.

Luca Bugnano

Alberto Cabilli

Denis Rotta

Danilo Bolognese

Alfredo Vanni

Elvio Bonisoli

Carlo De Mango

Stefano Tornincasa

Carlo Carbonini

Luisa Anna Borello

Andrea Pinna

Massimo Sorli

Marino Reimondo

Laura Gastaldi

Silvia Barus

Emilio Cugnetto

Fabio Tottone

Giovanni Jacazio

Massimo Audino

Alberto Bottura

A system for preparing a food product comprises a sealed disposable container () and a preparation machine (), having a hydraulic circuit that comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and pumping means, as well as a first dispensing element (), which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam. The entry wall () of the disposable container () has at least one axially hollow coupling element (), which defines at least part of an inlet of the disposable container (). The disposable container () comprises an axially extending injector element (), which can be coupled to the at least one coupling element () or is formed integrally therewith in such a way that at least one first distal portion of the injector element () extends within the internal volume (). The first dispensing element () and the at least one coupling element () of the disposable container () are configured for mutual coupling, and the hydraulic circuit () can be controlled for conveying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element (), for the corresponding injection into the internal volume () of the disposable container () through the injector element ().

System, machine and container for preparing fluid food products

A machine for preparing a food product comprises at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit and a control system. The hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and pumping means, as well as a first dispensing element (), which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam. The first dispensing element () is configured for coupling, in particular sealed coupling, with an inlet () of a disposable container () for preparing and retaining the food product, and the hydraulic circuit () is controllable, in particular via the control system, for conveying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element ().

Machine, system and method for preparing fluid food products

A capsule for extraction of a beverage of the filter-coffee type has a capsule body (), made of water-impermeable material, which defines a chamber (), present inside which is a precursor of the beverage, comprising soluble coffee and roast and ground coffee. At least 51 wt % of the precursor is roast and ground coffee having a grain size expressed in x50 comprised between 350 and 800 μm, and the complement to 100 wt % of the precursor is soluble coffee having a grain size expressed in x50 comprised between 1000 and 5000 μm. The roast and ground coffee is laid out to form a first layer (GC) in the lower part of the capsule body (), and the soluble coffee (SC) is laid out to form a second layer (SC) in the upper part of the capsule body, i.e., in a position corresponding to the inlet wall () and/or above the first layer (GC). The first layer of roast and ground coffee (GC) is pressed inside the capsule body (), and the second layer of soluble coffee (SC) is present inside the capsule body () substantially unpressed.

Capsule for the preparation of a coffee-based beverage

The cartridge () according to the invention comprises an envelope () having a first and a second end wall () connected together by an annular lateral wall () and defining an inner chamber () containing a quantity or dose of a substance (S) for preparation of the beverage. The envelope () has at least one first and at least one second permeable wall () acting as an inlet for the introduction of a flow of water into the chamber () and as an outlet from it respectively for outflow of the beverage from chamber (). Between the first and the second permeable walls () the envelope () has an outwardly projecting annular formation (). A portion of the permeable inlet wall () for the introduction of water into the chamber () is made in the annular lateral wall () of the envelope (). The annular formation () extends from the second end wall () in a direction substantially opposite to the first end wall ().

Cartridge, machine and system for the preparation of beverages and process for manufacturing the cartridge

A capsule or cartridge () including a cup-shaped body () with a bottom wall (), a lateral wall () and a flange-like top formation () which is essentially planar and extends transversely towards the outside, and a cover () fixed to the flange-like formation () of the body (), such as to define a chamber () containing the material for the preparation of the beverage, in particular ground roasted coffee. The lateral wall () of the body () has a plurality of projections () and recesses () which as a whole define at least an identification of the capsule (). The projections () and recesses () are aligned in an essentially rectilinear direction, belonging to a plane essentially parallel to the flange-like formation () of the body () of the capsule ().

Capsule or cartridge and infusion assembly for the preparation of a beverage, in particular coffee

The system comprises: The capsules (C) of the aforementioned different types have flanges () of correspondingly different shapes, and the end delimiting part () of the brewing chamber () carries stop members () adapted to be coupled to the flanges () of said different types of capsules (C) when the latter are introduced into the brewing chamber (), so as to allow correspondingly different relative movements of the end delimiting part () relative to the lateral delimiting part () of said chamber ().

System for the preparation of beverages

A dispensing assembly for a machine for preparing a liquid food product by means of capsules including With the guide member in the operative position and with the first chamber part and the second chamber part in the spaced-apart position, a displacement of the pusher member from the first position to the second position causes a thrust on the capsule towards the outlet passage, in order to free the capsule from the retention means.

Dispensing assembly for machines for preparing liquid products by means of capsules

A machine for preparing liquid food products includes: a source of a liquid; a delivery assembly, having a brewing chamber for receiving a precursor of a liquid food product and for delivering the food product following passage of the liquid through the brewing chamber; a pump, for pumping the liquid; and a control system, for controlling an electric motor of the pump. The pump has a casing with an inlet and an outlet and an arrangement driven via the motor. The motor is bidirectional, and the control system includes means for controlling reversal of rotation of the motor between a primary direction and a secondary direction. The pump has a priming system including a recirculation valve and an actuation arrangement.

Machine for preparing liquid products, in particular via capsules

A machine for preparing liquid food products includes a pump. A cylinder is defined in the pump casing, with a piston extending in the cylinder at least in part to define a variable-volume work chamber. Between a shaft of a motor and the piston there is a transmission arrangement for causing a reciprocating movement of the piston with a predetermined stroke between advanced and retracted positions, to vary a volume of the work chamber. The pump has an intake valve and a delivery valve, for connecting the work chamber with an inlet and an outlet of the pump casing, respectively. The transmission arrangement has an actuation member driven in rotation by the shaft and operatively coupled to the piston. The actuation member defines a cam path to which the piston is coupled. The cam path is prearranged for determining the predetermined stroke of the piston between the advanced position and the retracted position.

The gripper device () comprises a pair of opposite movable jaws () having respective coordinated gripping profiles () intended to cooperate with corresponding predetermined portions of the lateral surface of a capsule (C) of a first predetermined type so as to define a retaining position for such a capsule (C) in which the capsule (C) is essentially coaxial with a predetermined reference direction (R-R). The jaws () are able to assume a relative rest or standby position in which they are close together and inlet portions thereof () are capable of being splayed and passed beyond by a capsule (C) introduced into the machine (), so as to allow said capsule (C) to be positioned and gripped between the gripping profiles () in the retaining position. Moreover, the jaws (), adjacent to said coordinated gripping profiles (), have respective further coordinated gripping profiles () able to cooperate with corresponding predetermined portions of the lateral surface of a capsule (CX) of a further and different type able to be introduced into the machine as well as to splay and pass beyond the inlet portions () of the jaws (). These further coordinated profiles () are shaped and/or arranged such that they are capable of defining, for a capsule (CX) of the further type, a corresponding retaining position in which the capsule (CX) of the further type is axially offset by a predetermined amount (&#x394;) with respect to the predetermined reference direction (R-R).

Gripper retention device for a capsule or the like in a machine for the preparation of beverages, in particular espresso coffee

A machine for preparing liquid food products using capsules includes a dispensing assembly, a loading arrangement, an actuation system and a control system, including a processor, a non-volatile memory and an optical sensor device for acquiring characteristic information associated to an end wall of the body of a capsule. The actuation system is prearranged so that movements of the first part and the second part of the infusion chamber take place in a direction generally transverse to a direction of movement of the capsule determined by the insertion guide. The optical sensor device is mounted laterally with respect to the insertion guide. The loading arrangement has first retaining elements, which define an intermediate retention position of the capsule, in such a way that the control system is able to acquire the characteristic information by the optical sensor device when the capsule is in the intermediate position of retention. The first retaining elements can be switched from the respective condition of retention to a respective condition of release of the capsule by applying a force to the capsule.

Machine and system for the preparation of liquid products using capsules

A machine for preparing liquid food products using capsules includes a dispensing assembly having a first part and a second part designed to define an infusion chamber between them, a loading arrangement for the insertion of the capsule, an actuation system, a control system, and an arrangement for heating the fluid. A processor of the control system is prearranged for controlling at least the heating arrangement and the feeding arrangement. Encoded instructions contained in a memory of the control system has sets of brewing information that are differentiated from each other according to a type of capsule. The processor is prearranged for comparing an image acquired by an optical sensor device with reference images of the capsules that are encoded in the memory and for associating a set of brewing information to a corresponding type of capsule to select an operation mode.

A system for the preparation of beverages including capsules (C) with a cup-shaped body () having an annular lateral wall () which tapers from a mouth opening () towards a bottom wall (). These capsules (C) are of at least a first type and a second type, and have identical bottom walls () and different axial lengths (h, h, h). An infusion assembly () has a variable-volume infusion chamber (), having an introduction opening (), an end delimitation part () having a shape corresponding to that of the bottom wall () of the capsules (C), and with a lateral delimitation structure () which includes a static portion () and which extends between said introduction opening () and the end delimitation part (). The latter is movable away from the introduction opening ().

A system and machine for the preparation of beverages using capsules which includes a perforation device having an annular perforation member which, in the closed condition of the infusion chamber, extends into the interspace and is designed to cause a tear in the protruding portion of the wall of the capsule contained inside the chamber, such that a flow of pressurized water can be introduced into the capsule through the interspace or gap and the tear.

System and machine for the preparation of beverages using capsules

A machine for preparing coffee, including a brewing chamber; a water supply for supplying a flow of water to the brewing chamber; and an adaptive flow control device for the flow of water, positioned in series with the water supply and the brewing chamber.

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Moncalieri, Italy

Luca Bugnano