Nestec S.a.

Societe Des Produits Nestle S.a.

Thomas Hodel

Renzo Moser

Alexandre Kollep

Peter Möri

Stefan Etter

Peter Preisig

Gilles Gavillet

Robin Schwab

Urs Gaudenz

Michael Meier

Rudolf Schenk

Markus Lang

Leo Bühler

Steve Aemisegger

Christophe Boussemart

Peter Moeri

Maria Katharina Tarcsay

Christophe S Boussemart

A liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes a fluid arrangement and a printed circuit board for controlling one or more functions of the fluid arrangement, with the printed circuit board being enclosed within a substantially impervious housing to protect the printed circuit board from fluid or vapor emissions from the fluid arrangement.

Heating device with an integrated thermoblock for a beverage preparation machine

A combination of a flow meter and printed circuit board or flex-print for a liquid food or a beverage preparation machine, which board or flex-print is rigidly connected to the flow meter. This combination is used in a liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes an in-line heating device in which machine liquid is circulated through the heating device and then guided into a brewing chamber that includes a capsule or pod housing for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into the brewing chamber.

A liquid food of beverage preparation machine that includes an electric supply circuit connectable to an electric power source; a heater powered by the electric supply circuit; and a thermal fuse device in thermal communication with the heater and associated with the electric supply circuit, the fuse device being arranged to interrupt the electric supply circuit from the power source when the heater exceeds a temperature limit. The thermal fuse device is reversible and includes a switch for automatically interrupting the electric supply circuit when the heater exceeds the temperature limit, the switch being operable by a user to close the electric supply circuit when the heater has a temperature that has returned below the temperature limit.

An in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which machine liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient supplied into said brewing chamber. The heater has a body incorporating an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween, with the inlet, outlet and heating chamber forming together a rigid passage for guiding the liquid circulating through the body, and one or more electric components that are secured on or in the body and connected to a printed circuit board arranged to control the heater. The one or more electric components are rigidly connected to the printed circuit board.

Integrated heater for a beverage preparation device

A device for preparing hot beverages which includes an arrangement for circulating a liquid to a beverage supply exit and a combustion heater, such as a burner, for supplying combustion heat to the liquid that is circulated to the supply exit. The combustion heater can be associated with an electric heater for additionally or alternatively supplying electric heat to the liquid that is circulated to the supply exit or with a heat regulator for controlling the amount of heat supplied to the liquid from the combustion heater, the electric heater or both heaters.

Hybrid apparatus for preparing beverages

A process for manufacturing a beverage preparation machine by providing a group of interconnected components which include a brewing unit for receiving a beverage ingredient beverage and a liquid; an in-line heater for the liquid; a pump; one or more fluid connecting members; an electric control unit for receiving instructions from a user via an interface and for controlling the heater and pump; and one or more electric sensors for sensing at least one operational characteristic of the brewing unit, the heater, the pump, a liquid reservoir, an ingredient collector, a flow of the liquid, a pressure of the liquid and a temperature of the liquid and for communicating the characteristic(s) to the control unit. At least two or three modules, each containing at least two components, are preassembled such that the components are automatically seizable, orientable, positionable and fully connectable to each other.

Modular assembly of a beverage preparation machine

Devices for the preparation of a liquid food or beverage. One device includes a housing, pump, pump support for securing the pump to the housing, a rigid duct that is connected by an elastic sealing member to the housing and to an inlet or outlet of the pump. The pump support includes an elastic support member for resiliently supporting the pump chamber in the housing. Another device includes a pre-suction chamber connected to a liquid inlet of a pump and being designed to intermittently provide liquid to said liquid inlet. A further device includes a connector of at least one elastic sealing member designed to absorb vibrations from a pump of the device and to enable a relative movement of a duct and a liquid inlet or outlet of the pump.

Pump for liquid beverage preparation devices

An integrated in-line heater for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine, in which liquid is circulated through the heater and then guided into a brewing chamber for brewing a food or beverage ingredient, for instance within a pod or capsule, supplied into the brewing chamber. An upstream part of the brewing chamber may be formed by the heater. One or more electric components may be incorporated into the heater and rigidly connected to a printed circuit board. The heater may have a tubular inner core that is eccentric with respect to a tubular or prismatic outer member which form together a helicoidal heating chamber of variable cross-section.

An in-line heating device for a liquid food or beverage preparation machine in which liquid is circulated through the heating device and then guided into a brewing chamber. This heating device includes a thermoblock with a metal mass that incorporates an inlet, an outlet and a heating chamber extending therebetween to form a passage for guiding the liquid circulating through the mass, with the mass arranged to accumulate heat and to supply heat to the liquid; and one or more electric components that are rigidly secured onto or into the thermoblock and that are connected to a printed circuit board or a flex-print arranged to control the thermoblock. The electric components are rigidly connected to the printed circuit board or flex-print, in particular via rigid connector pins or blades or rigid plug and socket members.

The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device having a water circulation system that includes a water source with an outlet, a pump with a support member for holding and securing the pump in the device, and an integral water conduit having an inlet and outlet for guiding water from the water source to the pump. The conduit outlet is connected to the pump and the water source outlet is connected to the water conduit inlet via an annular sealing member that forms an integral protruding portion of one of the conduit inlet or the source outlet. The pump support is integral with the water conduit, in particular with the conduit outlet.

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Hagendorn, Switzerland

Thomas Hodel