Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Michael Ayoub

Christian Talon

Alexandre Pugliese

Akos Spiegel

Xavier Greppin

Roland Lehmann

Nicolas Stoudmann

Gerhard Pirker

Reto Markus Zurcher

Alexander Heinrich

Martin Gadient

Manuel Widmer

Antoine Gardiol

Pierre-Yves Vannay

The present invention concerns a brewing unit () for a beverage preparation machine (), having several automated functionalities actuated by one single motor (). The invention also concerns a beverage preparation machine comprising such an automated brewing unit.

Beverage preparation machine with single motor actuation

The present invention is directed to a home food or beverage preparation machine () comprising a mechanical part which is mobile between at least a first and a second position. The machine () comprises an actuator comprising a wire () made of a shape memory material. This wire () has a retracted state and an extended state, and the actuator is configured to move the mechanical part to or maintain the mechanical part in one of said first and second positions by retraction of the wire. Any mobile part of a home food or beverage preparation machine, and more particularly a valve assembly or a mobile plate () for clamping an ingredient package may thus be moved instantaneously without noise between its different positions.

Food or beverage preparation machine

A selection device () for a beverage preparation machine (), comprises a fixed selection element () and a mobile selection element (), the fixed selection element () comprising a set of marks () each corresponding to a parameter value, the mobile selection element () being movable in relation to the set of marks () for selecting a parameter value by positioning the mobile selection element () in visual association with a selected mark (). The selection device () further comprises a light-sending layer which is disposed in the fixed selection device (), a polarization layer for polarizing said sent light, and at least one polarization modifying layer able to modify the polarization of the polarized light such that the visual aspect of a selected mark () is modified when the mobile selection element () is positioned in visual association with the selected mark (), the polarization modifying layer being disposed in superposition relative to the polarization layer and relative to the selected mark ().

Simplified control panel for a beverage machine

A heating unit for a beverage preparation machine. The machine includes a pump for circulating a beverage preparation fluid through the machine from a fluid source to the heating unit. The heating unit is suitable for heating the fluid and includes a housing which defines a fluid heating chamber. A heating element is located inside the housing and is adapted to heat the fluid. The heating unit further includes a pre-heating tube for conveying the fluid from the pump. The pre-heating tube includes a tube inlet and a tube outlet. The tube outlet connects with the heating chamber. The pre-heating tube is located at least partly within the housing such that the heating element will at least partially heat the fluid in the pre-heating tube before the pre-heated fluid is released into the heating chamber through the outlet.

Heating unit for a beverage preparation machine

A beverage preparation machine includes a capsule holder for holding a capsule, a fluid conduction system, a brewing head having an aperture for receiving the capsule holder, and an injection support connected to the fluid conduction system, an injection plate supported by the support, including an upper surface connected to the fluid conduction system through the support. The injection plate includes at least one channel independent from the fluid conducting channel connecting its upper and lower surfaces, the channel being suitable for circulating fluid at least from the lower surface towards the upper surface of the injection plate, the channel further including at least one piercing element having a base attached to the injection plate and an apex directed towards the lower surface of the injection plate.

Food preparation machine with safety feature

The present invention is directed to a beverage capsule () comprises a capsule body () with an outlet (), a plug () configured to mate with said outlet (), and an opening device () being at least partially fabricated from a shape-memory alloy and biased to retain said plug () within said outlet () in a first, closed position, and which is configured to deflect from said first, closed position when heated above the transition temperature of said shape-memory alloy, thereby withdrawing said plug () from said outlet () into a second, open position and permitting fluid communication through said outlet ().

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Crissier, Switzerland

Michael Ayoub