Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Netsec S.a.

Ruguo Hu

Corey Arrick

Eugene Scoville

Ennio Bardin

Bao Zhong Hu

John Bernardi

Randall C Chrisman

William Overbaugh

Brita Frangsmyr Sheehan

Ting Deng

Kevin R Thomas

Donald Cardwell

Fenghua Wu

Alfred Yoakim

Elaine Regina Wedral

Christophe Boussemart

Xue Wang

Rong Chen

Antonio Gutierrez

Jean-Bernard Pulzer

Werner Bauer

Litao Yu

David Chih-Hung Chang

Megan E Walters

Michael Marszalec

Smith Yang

Systems and methods for testing and diagnosing malfunctions in a liquid dispenser are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a testing and diagnosing system including a pre-tester configured to test for and collect testing data regarding an operational status of the liquid dispenser and in communication with the liquid dispenser, a communication central module configured to receive information from the testing device and the pre-tester, and a database management system configured to operate, monitor and control the testing device, the pre-tester and/or the communication central module.

Systems and methods for testing and diagnosing malfunctions in a liquid dispenser

A water heating assembly is disclosed the includes a core heating element and an outer tube in which the core heating element is arranged. Also disclosed are methods for producing and using the water heating assembly.

Continuous-flow water heating assembly and production method

A system, a feeding device, and a method enable a terminal device of a pet owner to directly and/or indirectly communicate with the feeding device. The feeding device can monitor and/or feed the pet. For example, components of the feeding device, along with a sensor worn by the pet and in communication with the feeding device, can monitor the pet. A cloud database may compile and may perform an analysis of health and wellness information and food consumption data sent from the feeding device and may communicate with the terminal device of the pet owner bidirectionally. The analysis can use data from a consumer-club of pets to provide best service. The feeding device can also communicate with the terminal device of the pet owner bidirectionally, either directly using one or more wireless connections or indirectly using the cloud database.

System, method and feeding device for remote pet monitoring and feeding

A liquid purification apparatus is disclosed, along with methods of producing and using same.

Liquid purification apparatus and method

A beverage preparation machine includes first and second cameras for capturing first and second images of a receptacle. The beverage preparation machine further includes a control unit configured to determine a receptacle volume based on the first and second images and to determine a beverage volume to be dispensed based on the receptacle volume and the selected filling level or percentage. Regardless of the shape, volume, and/or material of the receptacle, the filling level or percentage for dispensing the beverage can be freely selected via a user interface.

Beverage preparation machine capable of determining a beverage volume of receptacles and corresponding method

The invention relates generally to remote data collecting systems and methods. In a general aspect, the present invention provides a remote data collecting system comprising a measuring device having at least two scales in communication with a web server. The web server can be used to display data from the measuring device on a website to be accessed by one or more users, for example, using a computing device. The remote data collecting system is particularly useful for real-time, uncontrolled environment (e.g., in-home) product testing.

Real-time remote data collecting systems and methods

The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers () each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet () and one downstream outlet (), an upstream means () for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means () for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means () closing the inlet () when the downstream means () opens the outlet () and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means () of the first chamber closes the first chamber () when the upstream means () of the second chamber opens the second chamber () and reciprocally.

Dosing unit for a powder dispenser

A device for preparing a whipped food, including a container portion that contains a food component and that is configured for receiving a fluid for mixing with the food component to produce a fluid mixture. A film conditioning conduit is associated with the container portion to receive the fluid mixture with gas bubbles entrained therein as a food product. The conduit includes a restriction channel associated with the container portion downstream thereof to receive the food product. The restriction channel has a cross-section sufficiently small and a length sufficiently large to selectively feed bubbles in the food product that are smaller than a preselected maximum bubble size. The conduit also includes a deceleration channel and fluid communication with the restriction channel downstream thereof to receive the food product. The deceleration channel substantially reduces the flow speed of the food product. An outlet downstream of and in fluid association with the deceleration channel dispenses the slowed food product.

Capsule with foam conditioning feature

The present invention concerns a device for the heating of a liquid in a beverage machine comprising at least one set of at least two resistors, wherein said resistors are electrically linked together so as to use one resistor of each set individually or in serial with one or more of the resistors of the same set, at least one individual resistor and at least one set of two resistors, wherein said resistors are electrically linked together so as to use the first resistor of a set individually or in serial with one or more of the following resistors of the same set, said resistors transferring the maximum of energy to the flow of liquid and allowing a finer control of the liquid temperature.

Device for the heating of a liquid

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage obtained by supplying hot water within the capsule under pressure and releasing the beverage from the capsule. The capsule includes a food substance therein, a first surface adapted to be traversed by a flow of water entering the capsule, and a second surface adapted to be traversed by a flow of beverage exiting the capsule. The second surface is adapted to deform outwardly upon action of the inside water pressure thereon. Also, that surface includes at least one opening member capable of deforming inwards the capsule upon a mechanical reaction force applied from outside onto the closure member as a result of the deformation of the second surface due to the build-up of the inside pressure.

Device for preparing a hot beverage

A method, apparatus, and related beverage profiles for on-demand heating of liquid used for beverage dispensing where such heating is dynamically variable according to the applicable profile. The apparatus includes a heating unit, electronic controller, and sensing devices. A water tank supplies the heating unit via a water pump controlled by the controller that also controls the heating unit. Feedback control loops provide control data to the controller to optimize liquid temperatures for a given beverage type in accordance with predetermined profiles.

Method and apparatus for optimizing variable liquid temperatures

A method of and system for providing machine-readable tags, preferably programmable RFID tags are provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a receptacle having at least one wall member that defines an enclosure and a tag associated with the receptacle, which includes machine-readable information regarding a product occupying the enclosure is provided. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the tag includes identification information in electronic form for the product.

Method and system of setting and/or controlling of a food product dispensing machine using a tag-type communication device

A unit having a collecting device with a seat arranged to receive a disposable capsule containing a soluble product, such as a beverage-forming powder. The capsule contains at least one inlet port for a diluting fluid introduced into the capsule, at least one outlet port for delivery of a beverage provided by thorough mixing of the soluble product and the diluting fluid, and a bottom wall. The unit also includes a throttling arrangement provided by an engaging surface of a plunger that is operatively associated with the outlet port of the capsule. The engaging surface of the plunger is positioned and arranged outside of the capsule before the diluting fluid enters into the capsule, with the throttling arrangement created as diluting fluid is urged to enter the capsule by expansion of the capsule bottom wall and by forcing the engaging surface of the plunger to snugly fit through the outlet port. This limits the introduction of the plunger inside the capsule to the limited displacement of the bottom wall as a result of its deformation under pressure.

Growing community of inventors

New Milford, CT, United States of America

Ruguo Hu