Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Matthieu Ozanne

Alexandre Kollep

Didier Vuagniaux

Alfred Yoakim

Stefan Kaeser

Frank Kräuchi

Gilles Gerber

Antoine Cahen

Antoine Ryser

Grégoire Terrien

Xavier Greppin

Philippe Monceyron

Ralph Piguet

Elmar Mock

Christoph Rusch

Andre Klopfenstein

Naomi Bitmead

Christoph Dworzak

Loic D'Hoine

Joel Bourdeau

Jean-Paul Denisart

Peter Möri

Fabien Ludovic Agon

Jean-Luc Thuliez

Guido Piai

Rudolf Schenk

Bernhard Kreitmayr

Olivier Martin

Dimitar Georgiev

Remo Dunki

Thierry Robert

Stefan Käser

Joël Bourdeau

Loïc D'Hoine

Rémo Dunki

The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into an ingredients-containing cartridge, the device comprising a pump () coupled between a fluid inlet () and a fluid outlet () for pumping the fluid from said inlet to said outlet, and a processing unit () for the pump () adapted to control an operation of the pump in response to an electrical energy () having a wave form such that the pump is energized only throughout selected half cycles (a,a,a. . . an) of the wave form of the electrical energy, wherein the processing unit () is configured to determine the respective selected half cycles (a,a,a. . . an) in which the pump is energized based on a target ratio (TR) of a target flow rate (FR) and a predefined maximum flow rate of the pump, and based on the calculation of an activation ratio (AR) of the number of past half cycles (A) for which the pump was energized to the number of overall half cycles (B) during a respective beverage preparation process. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a pump in a beverage preparation device.

Beverage preparation device with pump and method for controlling the pump

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 concerns a process for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine with a capsule comprising an enclosure containing tea leaves comprising the steps of: a) introducing water in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure, then b) letting the tea leaves soak, then c) introducing water in the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered, wherein water is continuously introduced in the capsule from the beginning of step a) until the end of step b).

Process of brewing tea leaves contained in 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 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

A beverage ingredient capsule () provided with an identification member () designed for being physically contacted from outside in order to control operation parameters of an associated beverage production machine.

Identification of beverage ingredient containing capsules

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.

A capsule-based beverage production machine that comprises a module designed for producing a beverage on the basis of ingredients which are contained in a capsule. The module comprises: means for retaining the capsule in a fixed position, and means for perforation of the capsule, wherein the perforation means are controlled to perforate the capsule after the capsule is retained in the fixed position by the retaining means.

Capsule piercing module

A device for preparing a liquid food or beverage having an outermost housing with faces that are arranged to shield at least part of a liquid food or beverage module. A face of the housing has a connection to an appliance. This face is arranged to support mechanically such an appliance. The connection is disconnectably connectable by a user to the appliance. The housing is so arranged that the appliance is removably mountable onto the housing face by a user.

Liquid food or beverage machine with combinable accessories

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.

Growing community of inventors

Chessel, Switzerland

Matthieu Ozanne