Abstract: A method for recognising a capsule in an apparatus that uses capsules for making beverages, comprising the steps of: acquiring an electronic image which shows a part of the outer surface of the capsule lid and in which an asymmetrical graphical element and a graphical code are present; identifying in the image the asymmetrical graphical element or parts of it, identifying its position in the image and saving it as a reference position; and starting from the reference position and using a predetermined position of the graphical code relative to the asymmetrical element, identifying in the image a position in which the graphical code is located and a graphical code reading orientation; reading the graphical code taking into account the position and orientation previously identified in the image, obtaining a code in electronic format; and considering the capsule recognised when the code in electronic format has been obtained.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, containing a powdered food substance (8) which enables a beverage to be made by passing water through it. The capsule (1) comprises a cup-shaped containment body (2), in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall (21) and a bottom portion (22), and a closing element (29) that closes the top of the containment body (2). The bottom portion (22) has a dispensing hole (26) and the containment body (2) defines a containment chamber (20) inside itself. A filtering element (3) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the powdered food substance (8) and the bottom portion (22). A dispensing element (5) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the filtering element (3) and the bottom portion (22). The dispensing element (5) is intended to create a tortuous path for the beverage that flows towards the dispensing hole (26).

Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage using a capsule (3), (4), wherein, respectively for a first and a second type of beverage selectable, first data and second data are saved which comprise a first and a second supplying start temperature value, a first and a second steady-state supplying temperature value, a first and a second total supplying time and a first and a second activation mode for the pump (16), and wherein an electronic control unit (19) is programmed to cause the supplying respectively of the first and second type of beverage using the first data and the second data for controlling a pump (16) and a boiler (17); wherein the first total supplying time comprises a pre-infusion time, a wait time and an infusion time; and wherein the first activation mode comprises an electricity supply to the pump (16) with an average power that is greater than that in the second activation mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for making beverages using capsules (2) containing a food substance, having at least one image acquisition device (13) suitable for capturing images in electronic format, which show at least one portion of a capsule (2) located in an image capture zone (14) and which operates in the visible spectrum, a lighting device (15) associated with the capture zone (14) for lighting with light in the visible spectrum said portion of a capsule (2), and a detecting device (17) for detecting the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14), the detecting device (17) being operatively associated with the lighting device (15) for causing the switching of the lighting device (15) from a switched off condition to a switched on condition, depending on the detection of the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or of the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14).

Abstract: A capsule containing a powdered food substance comprises a body including a lower wall and a lateral wall, and a lid fixed to the body. The lid and a central portion of the lower wall are pierceable to allow the injection of water into and the extraction of a beverage from the capsule. Between the lid and the lower wall, there is a permeable filter, which retains the powdered substance, the filter including a layered sheet of flexible material fixed to the body, and separating the powdered substance from the central portion. The sheet of flexible material is shaped to form, at the central portion, at least one projection towards the lid. At the projection the filter is distanced from the central portion and there is a compartment, located between the filter and the central portion, where a piercing element can be inserted following penetration through the central portion, without damaging the filter.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, containing a powdered food substance (8) which enables a beverage to be made by passing water through it. The capsule (1) comprises a cup-shaped containment body (2), in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall (21) and a bottom portion (22), and a closing element (29) that closes the top of the containment body (2). The bottom portion (22) has a dispensing hole (26) and the containment body (2) defines a containment chamber (20) inside itself. A filtering element (3) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the powdered food substance (8) and the bottom portion (22). A dispensing element (5) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the filtering element (3) and the bottom portion (22).

Abstract: A capsule for making beverages, containing a powdered food substance (2) and comprising a cup-shaped containment body (3) that has a bottom portion (5) equipped with a dispensing hole (9), a lower filtering element (14) mounted in the containment chamber (6) and positioned between the powdered food substance (2) and the bottom portion (5), and a sheet of flexible material (19), impermeable to oxygen, mounted in the containment body (3) between the powdered food substance (2) and the dispensing hole (9), and comprising a first layer (20) made of plastic material and a second layer (21) made of aluminium, which are coupled to each other, wherein the first layer (20) comprises one or more through cuts (25), each surrounded by a dispensing zone (26), the first layer (20) being locally detached from the second layer (21) at each dispensing zone (26).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, containing a powdered food substance (8) which enables a beverage to be made by passing water through it. The capsule (1) comprises a cup-shaped containment body (2), in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall (21) and a bottom portion (22), and a closing element (29) that closes the top of the containment body (2). The bottom portion (22) has a dispensing hole (26) and the containment body (2) defines a containment chamber (20) inside itself. A filtering element (3) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the powdered food substance (8) and the bottom portion (22). A dispensing element (5) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the filtering element (3) and the bottom portion (22). The dispensing element (5) is intended to create a tortuous path for the beverage that flows towards the dispensing hole (26).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, containing a powdered food substance (8) which enables a beverage to be made by passing water through it. The capsule (1) comprises a cup-shaped containment body (2), in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall (21) and a bottom portion (22), and a closing element (29) that closes the top of the containment body (2). The bottom portion (22) has a dispensing hole (26) and the containment body (2) defines a containment chamber (20) inside itself. A filtering element (3) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the powdered food substance (8) and the bottom portion (22). A dispensing element (5) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the filtering element (3) and the bottom portion (22). The dispensing element (5) is intended to create a tortuous path for the beverage that flows towards the dispensing hole (26).

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus (1) for making a beverage, comprising an infusion chamber (21) for a capsule containing a food substance, a transfer channel (32) which connects a capsule insertion opening (31) to the infusion chamber (21), an It image acquisition device (4) for acquiring at least one image of a portion of the capsule. The image acquisition device (4) includes an optical sensor (42) facing towards an image capture zone (40) which is a stretch of the transfer channel (32). A viewing window (45), made of transparent material, is interposed between the optical sensor (42) and the image capture zone (40), the viewing window (45) having a first face (451) and a second face (452). The apparatus also comprises a heating device (6, 22), which is positioned in a first region (11) which is at a height lower than a second region (12) in which the viewing window (45) is positioned. The first region (11) and the second region (12) are in communication with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for making beverages using capsules (2) containing a food substance, including an extraction unit (3) in which an openable extraction chamber (4) is made, an infeed section (9) for a capsule (2), a feed path (10) for the capsule (2) in the apparatus (1) from the infeed section (9), and at least one image acquisition device (12) operating in the range of visible light, positioned along the feed path (10) outside the extraction chamber (4), and designed, in use, when the capsule (2) is positioned in an image capture zone (13) located along the feed path (10), to capture images of at least an identification portion (14) of the capsule (2) on which a graphical element (15) is present and visible; the image acquisition device (12); an electronic processing unit (20) is connected to the image acquisition device (12) and is programmed to selectively enable or not enable the making of a beverage by performing the following operating steps based on a comparison between a first image detected by the image

Abstract: An apparatus for making beverages using capsules (2) containing a food substance, comprising at least one image acquisition device (13) suitable for capturing images in electronic format, which show at least one portion of a capsule (2) located in an image capture zone (14) and which operates in the visible spectrum, a lighting device (15) associated with the capture zone (14) for lighting with light in the visible spectrum said portion of a capsule (2), and a detecting device (17) for detecting the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14), the detecting device (17) being operatively associated with the lighting device (15) for causing the switching of the lighting device (15) from a switched off condition to a switched on condition, depending on the detection of the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or of the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14).

Abstract: A method for recognising a capsule (1) in an apparatus (2) that uses capsules (1) for making beverages, comprising the operating steps of: acquiring an image in electronic format which shows at least one part of the outer surface (5) of the disk-shaped lid (4) of the capsule (1) and in which both an asymmetrical graphical element (6) and a graphical code (7) are present; identifying in the electronic image the asymmetrical graphical element (6) or one or more parts of it, identifying its position in the image and saving that position as a reference position; and starting from the reference position and using a known predetermined position of the graphical code (7) relative to the asymmetrical graphical element (6), identifying in the electronic image both a position in which the graphical code (7) is located and a graphical code (7) reading orientation; reading the graphical code (7) taking into account the position and the orientation previously identified in the electronic image, obtaining a code in electro

Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage using a capsule (3), (4), wherein, respectively for a first and a second type of beverage selectable, first data and second data are saved which comprise a first and a second supplying start temperature value, a first and a second steady-state supplying temperature value, a first and a second total supplying time and a first and a second activation mode for the pump (16), and wherein an electronic control unit (19) is programmed to cause the supplying respectively of the first and second type of beverage using the first data and the second data for controlling a pump (16) and a boiler (17); wherein the first total supplying time comprises a pre-infusion time, a wait time and an infusion time; and wherein the first activation mode comprises an electricity supply to the pump (16) with an average power that is greater than that in the second activation mode.

Abstract: An image acquisition device (4) for a capsule, usable in an apparatus (1) for making a beverage that uses the capsule. The device (4) comprises an optical sensor (42) facing an image capture zone (40) in which said capsule is located or passes, at least one light emitting element (44) for lighting the image capture zone (40), a box-shaped casing (5) surrounding an inner chamber (50) in which the optical sensor (42) is housed. The box-shaped casing (5) comprises a front wall (51), that is made of transparent material and is interposed between the optical sensor (42) and the image capture zone (40), and lateral walls (52, 53, 54, 55) that are connected to the front wall (51) and laterally delimit the inner chamber (50).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, containing a powdered food substance (8) which enables a beverage to be made by passing water through it. The capsule (1) comprises a cup-shaped containment body (2), in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall (21) and a bottom portion (22), and a closing element (29) that closes the top of the containment body (2). The bottom portion (22) has a dispensing hole (26) and the containment body (2) defines a containment chamber (20) inside itself. A filtering element (3) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the powdered food substance (8) and the bottom portion (22). A dispensing element (5) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) and is positioned between the filtering element (3) and the bottom portion (22).

Abstract: oxygen-tight way to the containment body (2) and intended to be torn during use, thereby allowing the beverage to pass through it. A flow throttling element (7) is mounted in the containment chamber (20) in a position interposed between the filtering element (3) and the dispensing element (5) and obstructs the passage cross-section for the beverage in the containment chamber (20). The flow throttling element (7) has at least one through opening (71) through which, in use, the beverage flows towards the dispensing element (5).

Abstract: A containment body for making a cup-shaped capsule for making beverages comprising a lateral wall (4) that, in a zone of it closer to an upper edge (5) than to a bottom wall (3), is provided with one or more retaining elements (8) projecting towards the central axis in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis, the one or more retaining elements (8) forming between them and the bottom wall (3) an undercut seat (9); and a method for making capsules comprising different quantities of powdered food substance using said containment body (1) and positioning an upper filtering element (16) either coupled to the undercut seat (9) or positioned close to a lid (15).

Abstract: A capsule for making beverages, containing a powdered food substance (2) and comprising a cup-shaped containment body (3) that has a bottom portion (5) equipped with a dispensing hole (9), a lower filtering element (14) mounted in the containment chamber (6) and positioned between the powdered food substance (2) and the bottom portion (5), and a sheet of flexible material (19), impermeable to oxygen, mounted in the containment body (3) between the powdered food substance (2) and the dispensing hole (9), and comprising a first layer (20) made of plastic material and a second layer (21) made of aluminium, which are coupled to each other, wherein the first layer (20) comprises one or more through cuts (25), each surrounded by a dispensing zone (26), the first layer (20) being locally detached from the second layer (21) at each dispensing zone (26).