Abstract: The present invention discloses a microwave container comprising a receptacle having a foodstuff hermetically sealed therein by means of a metal lid and a collar which is of annular configuration and adapted to located over the rim of the receptacle when the hermetically sealed lid is removed therefrom, the collar being provided with a means whereby, in use, any edge of the metal lid remaining after removal is shielded from microwave radiation.

Abstract: A beverage is prepared employing a package containing at least one beverage ingredient, e.g. roast and ground coffee. The package (10;200) is located at a brewing station, the package is pierced by a tool (49;248) to form an outlet opening (38;202) in the package, an aqueous medium, e.g. hot water, is introduced into the package, the aqueous medium is allowed to commingle with the beverage ingredient, and the beverage so formed is collected through the outlet formed in the package. The piercing tool is employed both to form the outlet opening, and to fold the material (117;204) surrounding the opening out of the path of the beverage which subsequently emerges through the outlet opening.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for dispensing the bottom cup from a selected stack of cups utilizing a rotatable carriage for supporting a plurality of stacks of cups arranged along the rotary path of the carriage. As the carriage rotates a stack is selected from which a cup is to be dispensed a sensor determines when the selected stack reaches a predetermined position along the rotary path of the stacks. There are separators for separating the bottom cup from the respective stack and a solenoid operated ramp for movement into the rotary path of the separating means to separate the bottom cup from the selected stack. The solenoid operated ramp is operated by a signal from the sensing means.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lid for a drinking cup, which comprises a base portion having an upstanding collar formed around the periphery thereof, the collar having an inner wall terminating in a rim provided with at least one orifice adapted, in use, for a beverage to be drunk therethrough, and having a skirt extending downwardly from the rim which, in use, is adapted to frictionally engage the rim of a cup containing the beverage, and the base portions being provided with a hole adapted, in use, for the introduction of the beverage and/or beverage making ingredients therethrough.

Abstract: A beverage is prepared employing a package (10) having a compartment (111) containing at least one beverage ingredient, e.g. roast and ground coffee. The package is located at a brewing station, an aqueous medium, e.g. hot water, is introduced into the package, the aqueous medium is allowed to commingle with the beverage ingredient, and the beverage so formed is collected through an outlet (38) formed in the package. The compartment of the package is sealed by a covering material (119) which determines one dimension of at least one opening (115) acting to filter the beverage passing out of the compartment to the outlet of the package. The package is also clamped at the brewing station prior to the introduction of the aqueous medium in a manner which maintains said one dimension during the subsequent formation and collection of the beverage.

Abstract: A beverage is prepared employing a package (10) having a compartment (111) containing at least one beverage ingredient, e.g. roast and ground coffee. The package is located at a brewing station, an aqueous medium, e.g. hot water, is introduced into the package, the aqueous medium is allowed to commingle with the beverage ingredient, and the beverage so formed is collected through an outlet (38) formed in the package. The compartment of the package is sealed by a covering material (119) which determines one dimension of at least one opening (115) acting to filter the beverage passing out of the compartment to the outlet of the package. The package is also clamped at the brewing station prior to the introduction of the aqueous medium in a manner which maintains said one dimension during the subsequent formation and collection of the beverage.

Abstract: A beverage is prepared employing a package containing at least one beverage ingredient, e.g. roast and ground coffee. The package (10;200) is located at a brewing station, the package is pierced by a tool (49;248) to form an outlet opening (38;202) in the package, an aqueous medium, e.g. hot water, is introduced into the package, the aqueous medium is allowed to commingle with the beverage ingredient, and the beverage so formed is collected through the outlet formed in the package. The piercing tool is employed both to form the outlet opening, and to fold the material (117;204) surrounding the opening out of the path of the beverage which subsequently emerges through the outlet opening.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a machine for preparing a beverage employing a package (10;200) containing at least one beverage ingredient, e.g. roast and ground coffee. The machine has a point of entry (16;209) for the package into the machine, a brewing station within the machine at which the package is supplied with an aqueous medium to produce the required beverage, and drive means (24;217, 221, 222) which engage the package at the point of entry and convey the package to the brewing station. The drive means includes a coupling between a drive part (243;226) and a part (30;252) associated with the package, the coupling enabling the drive to the package to be engaged and disengaged and allowing the part associated with the package to move independently of the drive part.

Abstract: A sealed beverage package containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the said package comprising a body portion having a compartment containing the beverage ingredients and a beverage outlet channel formed therein, the beverage outlet channel and the compartment of the body portion containing the beverage ingredients communicating in such a manner that, in use, the said compartment and the outlet channel co-operate to act as a filter during the preparation of a beverage from the package.

Abstract: A nestable container which is constructed so that when formed into a stack the ribs formed in the outer surface of one container rest on an inner shoulder of the container below it in the stack, the angle of inclination of the ribs being the same as the angle of inclination of the inner surface of the side wall portion which it abuts of the container below it in the stack, and the outer surface of one container adjacent to the base engaging the inner surface of the side wall portion of the container below it in the stack to form a powder seal. The cups when nested together to form a stack are freely rotatable one inside the other.

Abstract: In this invention, there is provided a combination of a heat resistant container containing a ready prepared meal and a secondary package providing support for the container and restricting the flow of hot air back to the container.

Abstract: A process for the condensation of a volatile-rich vapor stream produced by a stripping operation from a vegetable or fruit product or the extract thereof, which comprises the steps of:(i) condensing a major proportion of the water present in the vapor stream using a surface condenser with water as a coolant;(ii) subjecting the condensate of step (i) to further cooling in a heat-exchanger using water at a lower temperature than that of step (i) as the coolant; and(iii) contacting the cooled condensate from step (ii) with the vapor stream issuing from the condenser of step (i) in a countercurrent absorption column.The process is particularly applicable to the condensation of a volatile-rich water vapor stream containing coffee volatiles.

Abstract: A UHT processed physically stable milk composition comprising the following by weight:______________________________________ Milk 80-94.1% Sugar 5-10% Dried Fat 0-10% Emulsion Modified Starch 0.5-3% Iota-carrageenan 0.15-0.5% Xantham gum 0.0-0.5% ______________________________________and either 0-0.2% locust bean gum or 0-0.2% guar gum and 0-0.5% gelatin, and optionally flavoring, coloring and sweeteners the minimum proportion of gum blend being 0.1%.

Abstract: Vending apparatus for dispensing discrete articles stacked one above the other such as a stack of pre-filled cups with dry ingredients for mixing with water to make a beverage. The apparatus includes stationary support rings for supporting a plurality of stacks of articles arranged about a vertical axis. An actuating device is adapted to select an article from a particular stack, and for releasing the lowermost article of the selected stack into a carrier. An indexing drive moves the carrier, if necessary, between a discharge station and a position beneath each stack and then returns the carrier to the discharge station, with the selected article being held in the carrier at least until the carrier reaches the discharge station.

Abstract: A display unit comprising an elongated tray with walls which define a region accommodating a batch of sachets, the tray including longitudinal side walls with inwardly turned parts at each end, the said parts being capable of providing support for another display unit placed above.

Abstract: A dessert composition is prepared which is pourable at ambient temperature, but hardens to a smooth, brittle, edible coating when applied to a frozen dessert comprising from 50% to 65% by weight of a mixture of a major proportion of a first vegetable oil melting below 5.degree. C. and a minor proportion of a second vegetable oil melting above 20.degree. C., from 10% to 35% by weight of a finely-divided sugar and from 5% to 20% by weight of a dried milk powder.

Abstract: A dry semolina dessert powdered composition comprising fine hard wheat semolina, a powdered starch, pulverized sugar, skim milk powder and a spray-dried fat emulsion, the ingredients and their proportions being selected so that the composition when mixing with boiling water and quickly stirred produces a creamy, grainy and thick textured semolina-like hot pudding. The composition allows the quick and convenient production of a ready-to-serve hot semolina pudding from the dry mix of the ingredients, with the textural and creamy taste characteristics of a conventional semolina pudding.