Abstract: An appliance is arranged for frothing a body of a milk-containing liquid contained in a frothing tank. Such appliance includes an air incorporation device that is arranged to dip or to be immersed in such body of liquid during frothing for incorporating air thereinto; and a steam supply arrangement having a steam outlet that is arranged to be immersed in such body of liquid during frothing for incorporating steam thereinto. The steam outlet and the air incorporation device are arranged to be at spaced apart locations in such body of liquid during frothing so as to form steam bubbles at the steam outlet separately from air bubbles that are being formed by the air incorporation device.

Abstract: A capsule-treatment machine is arranged for separating a packaging of a capsule, in particular made of metal such as aluminium or plastic, from a capsule food or beverage ingredient contained therein. The machine includes a mechanism for opening the capsule packaging that is fed to the machine and for removing the capsule ingredient from the opened capsule packaging; a parting mechanism for parting the opened capsule packaging from the capsule ingredient; a collector for collecting the opened capsule packaging; and means a collector for collecting the capsule ingredient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid heating device, in particular for household application, mainly for preparing hot beverages comprising a body provided with a liquid flow channel which comprises a liquid inlet and outlet and is connected to at least one electrical heating body whose feeding is controlled by switching means connected to control means.

Abstract: A heating device for cup-shaped receptacles such as coffee cups. The device includes a support for supporting a receptacle with the support including a heating mechanism and being designed to generate and guide heated air or radiating heat to the receptacles in order to heat a surface of the receptacle. The surface is preferably the whole inner or outer surface of the cup-shaped receptacle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid heating device, in particular for household application, mainly, for preparing hot beverages comprising a body provided with a liquid flow channel which comprises a liquid inlet and outlet and is connected to at least one electrical heating body whose feeding is controlled by switching means connected to control means.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a system for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a single-use capsule (1) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (1), said system comprises a device (50) having at least one enclosing member (13a, 13b) connected to a closing mechanism (21) for selectively enclosing said capsule (1) in a receiving chamber (16) of the device (50), said device further comprising a pump (70) for supplying liquid to the capsule (1), opening means (15,16) for opening a first inlet face (3a) and a second outlet face (3b) of the capsule (1), and a control unit (80) for controlling at least the pump (70) of the device, wherein the opening means (15,16) are arranged to supply a liquid received from the pump (70) to the inside of the capsule (1), wherein the capsule (1) further comprises a rigid body (2) and a recessed section (4) formed as an integral part of the body (2), and wherein said recessed section (4) is formed at the inlet face (3a) of the capsule (1) and comprises a plura

Abstract: Beverage preparation machine comprising: a fluid circuit (2) comprising a water reservoir (4), a water pump (5), a heating means (7), a beverage producing module (9), which are fluidically connected for circulating water from the reservoir to the beverage producing module, wherein an inlinedescaling system (3) is provided in the fluid circuit (2)comprising a dedicated compartment (15) intended for receiving a predetermined dose of a water soluble/dispersible descaling agent (19). The invention also relates to a method for automatically descaling and rinsing the fluid circuit (2).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An electrically powered device for preparing beverages, in particular hot beverages, that includes means for conditioning a liquid to prepare one or more batches of beverage after such a beverage preparation device has been switched on; and a power management arrangement for shutting down the beverage preparation device automatically.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients comprising a sealed ingredient compartment, an inlet face, an outlet face, an aperture in the inlet face of the capsule, a membrane attached to the inner side of the portion of the inlet face surrounding the aperture, wherein the membrane is attached to the inlet face by a first circumferential section in a detachable sealing engagement.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients. The capsule includes a sealed ingredients compartment, an inlet face, an outlet face, and an opening member which is positioned at the inlet face outside the compartment and which is provided with piercing members directed towards the ingredients compartment.

Abstract: A beverage machine having a height-adjustment device that includes a movable support plate for adjusting the position of the recipient relative to at least one beverage outlet. The support plate is movable relative to the at least one beverage outlet. The machine also includes a displacement mechanism for displacing the support plate relative to the outlet. The displacement mechanism includes a motorized driver for driving the displacement mechanism, a controller for controlling the actuation of the driver and which is configured to set a predetermined distance between the outlet and the recipient. A drip-collecting device can also be selectively provided to collect liquid falling from the beverage outlet when the recipient is not present.

Abstract: A method for preparing a froth from a milk-based liquid from an appliance which includes a tank for receiving liquid that is to be frothed, and in which liquid a rotatable stirrer is positioned, a stand associated with the tank, and a system for driving the stirrer. The stirrer drive system and the stirrer include magnetic elements allowing the stirrer to be rotationally driven magnetically in the tank. At least one disturbance member is also provided to break or prevent symmetric circulation of the liquid about the median vertical axis of the tank.

Abstract: A method for cleaning milk residues from a mixing head for producing heated milk in the form of a froth or water-milk mixture. The mixing head includes a steam feed, a milk inlet, a mixing area where the steam feed and milk inlet join and the steam and milk combine, an outlet nozzle for draining the resulting mixture from the mixing head, a rinsing medium supply, a milk supply and a transfer mechanism that provides relative movement between the milk inlet and the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply for selectively bringing the milk inlet into fluid connection with the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply, such that milk or a rinsing medium, as desired, can enter the mixing head at the milk inlet. The introduction of the rinsing medium cleans any residual milk from the milk inlet.

Abstract: A beverage machine having a height-adjustment device that includes a movable support plate for adjusting the position of the recipient relative to at least one beverage outlet. The support plate is movable relative to the at least one beverage outlet. The machine also includes a displacement mechanism for displacing the support plate relative to the outlet. The displacement mechanism includes a motorized driver for driving the displacement mechanism, a controller for controlling the actuation of the driver and which is configured to set a predetermined distance between the outlet and the recipient. A drip-collecting device can also be selectively provided to collect liquid falling from the beverage outlet when the recipient is not present.

Abstract: A mixing head for producing heated milk in the form of a froth or water-milk mixture. The mixing head includes a steam feed, a milk inlet, a mixing area where the steam feed and milk inlet join and the steam and milk combine, an outlet nozzle for draining the resulting mixture from the mixing head, a rinsing medium supply, a milk supply and a transfer mechanism that provides relative movement between the milk inlet and the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply for selectively bringing the milk inlet into fluid connection with the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply, such that milk or a rinsing medium, as desired, can enter the mixing head at the milk inlet.

Abstract: Appliance for preparing a froth from a milk-based liquid which includes a tank for receiving liquid that is to be frothed, and in which liquid a rotatable stirrer is positioned, a stand associated with the tank, and a system for driving the stirrer. The stirrer drive system and the stirrer include magnetic elements allowing the stirrer to be rotationally driven magnetically in the tank. At least one disturbance member is also provided to break or prevent symmetric circulation of the liquid about the median vertical axis of the tank.

Abstract: A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient, the device including a main frame, a first capsule holding part, a second capsule holding part for at least partially holding the capsule mobile relative to the first capsule holding part in the frame and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism that includes knuckle joints; and a manual handle forming lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The closing mechanism includes an additional force transmitting member associated with the handle and arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joints that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid heating device, in particular for household application, mainly, for preparing hot beverages comprising a body provided with a liquid flow channel which comprises a liquid inlet and outlet and is connected to at least one electrical heating body whose feeding is controlled by switching means connected to control means.

Abstract: A drink preparing device that includes a box and a holding and drip-collecting system that comprises a holding part positionable beneath a drink outlet in order to accept a first, relatively small receptacle, and being configured and dimensioned to be moveable between a deployed holding position suitable for accepting the small receptacle and a second position in which the part is moved at least partly out of the way of the drink outlet to create an unoccupied space in which a second, larger receptacle can be positioned, in place of the first receptacle, beneath the drink outlet.