Nestec S.a.

Patrick Caprotti

Alexandre Perentes

Jean-Luc Denisart

Jean-Paul Denisart

Enzo Bonacci

Andrew Gunstone

Alfred Yoakim

Alexandre Kollep

Alex Kollep

A receptacle holding unit () for a device for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a receptacle () comprises: &#x2014;a first part () with a first engagement arrangement (); &#x2014;a second part () that has a second engagement arrangement () pivotally movable relative to the first engagement arrangement () about a longitudinal axis (') between a closed position for holding the receptacle in such unit and an open position for inserting the receptacle into such unit and/or for removal therefrom; and &#x2014;a piercing device (C) having at least one piercing element () for piercing the receptacle (), this device being assembled to and held by the second part. At least one piercing element () is off this axis (&#x2032;) and is angularly fixed relative to the first part () about this axis (&#x2032;) when the second engagement arrangement () is pivotally moved relative to the first engagement arrangement () about this axis (&#x2032;) between the closed and open positions.

Pivotally closing beverage ingredient holder with piercer

A receptacle holding unit () for a device for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a receptacle () having: &#x2014;a first part (); &#x2014;a second part () that is movable towards the first part, in particular along a longitudinal axis ('), into a closed position for holding the receptacle in such unit and relatively apart from the first part into an open position for inserting the receptacle into such unit and/or for removal therefrom; &#x2014;a fastening device () having a fastened configuration for fastening together the first and second parts () in the closed position and an unfastened configuration such to enable movement of the first and second parts out of the closed configuration; and &#x2014;an actuator () movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration to drive the first part and the second part between the open and the closed positions. The actuator is movable along a straight axis (&#x2032;) to drive the first part () and the second part () into the closed position and further movable along said axis (&#x2032;) to actuate the fastening device () from the unfastened configuration to the fastened configuration.

Actuator for closing a beverage ingredient holder and method of using same

The invention relates to a method of wetting and/or dissolving a substance contained in a capsule for producing a beverage consisting, by means of a piercing and injection element, in piercing the capsule and injecting a liquid under pressure into the capsule to wet and/or dissolve the substance; the piercing and injection element being arranged so as to inject the liquid into the capsule in the form of at least one thin layer extending in a continuous, divergent and multidirectional manner, covering a spray surface in an arc of a circle inside the capsule. The invention also relates to a device comprising a flow channel and a valve designed to close off the channel in a first position, called the rest position, and to open under the effect of the pressure from the liquid against an elastic element so as to free a passage as a function of the pressure and thus create the thin layer of liquid.

Device and method for preparing a drink from a food substance contained in a capsule

The invention relates to a device for preparing a beverage by injection of water through a capsule containing a substance to be dissolved and/or to be extracted. The device comprises at least one water-injection system for introducing water inside the capsule. The injection system can be switched in order for a selection to be made between at least two different modes of wetting the substance so as to adapt wetting in accordance with the type of capsule and/or with the nature of the substance contained in the capsule. The invention aims to propose a device suitable for the preparation of a wider range of beverages, foaming or non-foaming, from substances to be extracted and/or soluble substances.

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Forel/lavaux, Switzerland

Patrick Caprotti