Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes an aerosol-forming chamber, and a leakage preventer for preventing or reducing leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol generating system. The leakage preventer may include one or more of: at least one cavity in a wall of the aerosol-forming chamber, for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; at least one hooked member for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an impactor for disrupting airflow in the aerosol-forming chamber so as to collect liquid droplets; and a closure member for substantially sealing the aerosol-forming chamber when the aerosol generating system is not in use.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one electric heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol. The heater includes a heating element of a first cross section electrically connected to a plurality of elongate support elements. Each support element has a cross section greater than the first cross section. At least one of the support elements is integrally formed with the heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a beverage by delivering sanitized liquid within a package containing nutritional ingredients. The apparatus includes a package comprising a product compartment containing nutritional ingredients and a spout arranged for the supply of liquid inside the compartment. The apparatus also includes a machine comprising a control unit and a liquid supply and treatment unit. Methods of production and use thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a; 1b) of two different heights (ha;hb) comprises a seat (11, 12, 13; 15) for receiving any of the cartridges (1a;1b). The seat is delimited by a first part (11,12,13) and a second part (15) that are relatively movable between an extraction position and a loading and/or ejection position. The first part has a first portion (11,12) and a second portion (13) that are relatively movable to delimit a cavity (12?) having selectively: a first depth (da) for receiving a cartridge (1a) of the first height (ha); and a second depth (db) for receiving a cartridge (1b) of the second height (hb). The seat has a depth detecting arrangement (20), such as a detecting arrangement comprising a control unit (21) connected to sensor (22) via a connection (23). The depth detecting arrangement is configured to detect a relative position of the first portion and the second portion to determine whether the cavity has at least one of the first and second depths.

Abstract: A device (1) handles selectively a first capsule (2a) having a first flange (2a?) and a second capsule (2b) having a second flange (2b?) greater than the first flange (2a?). The device comprises a first part (10) and a second part (20) that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule (2a, 2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule (2a, 2b). The device further comprises separation means (33) for separating such capsule (2a, 2b) from at least one of the first and second parts (10,20) when the first and second parts (10,20) are relatively moved from the extraction position to the transfer position.

Abstract: An aerosol generating system is provided, including: a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating element for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, control circuitry in communication with the storage portion, and disabling component within the storage portion for rendering the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry. There is also provided a method in an aerosol generating system, including sending a disable signal from the control circuitry to the disabling component following a determination that an amount of the aerosol-substrate in the storage portion is below a threshold level or following a determination of a malfunction in the system.

Abstract: A fitment for a package for preparing a beverage connectable to a machine for supplying sanitized liquid to the package is disclosed. The fitment includes a sealing portion and a housing and a fluid connector for fluidly connecting to the machine and to supply liquid inside the container. Also disclosed are packages containing same and methods of producing and using same.

Abstract: Capsule processing units of a beverage preparation machine are disclosed, as well as beverage preparation machines containing same. Also disclosed are methods of processing a capsule with the capsule processing unit. The capsule processing unit includes a code reading system, a capsule transfer mechanism, and an actuator unit.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a shell and a replaceable mouthpiece. The shell includes an electric power supply and electric circuitry. The mouthpiece includes a liquid storage portion and a capillary wick having a first end and a second end. The first end of the wick extends into the liquid storage portion for contact with liquid therein. The mouthpiece also includes a heating element for heating the second end of the capillary wick, an air outlet, and an aerosol forming chamber between the second end of the capillary wick and the air outlet. When the shell and mouthpiece are engaged or connected, the heating element is in electrical connection with the power supply via the circuitry, and a flowpath for air is defined from at least one air inlet to the air outlet via the aerosol forming chamber. In use, liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion towards the heating element by capillary action in the wick.

Abstract: Capsule (1), for preparing a beverage, connectable to a machine (42) for supplying sanitized liquid to the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises: a product compartment (2) containing nutritional ingredients to produce the beverage when associated with the liquid, a spout (3) comprising a housing (6) and a fluid connector (5) adapted to be fluidly connected to a connection part (55) of a liquid supply and treatment unit (47) of the machine (42) and to supply liquid inside the product compartment (2); wherein the fluid connector (5) is arranged in the housing (6) to be displaceable between a storage position in which the fluid connector is enclosed in the housing (6) and a treatment position in which at least a frontal portion (9) of the fluid connector including its tip (7) with a liquid inlet (8) extends beyond the housing (6) for enabling at least the tip (7) of the fluid connector to be inserted in the liquid supply and treatment unit (47) and to be exposed to an optical sanitizing field inside the unit

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for preparing a beverage by delivering sanitized liquid within a package (2) containing nutritional ingredients comprising: a package (2) comprising a product compartment (26) containing nutritional ingredients and a spout (27) arranged for the supply of liquid inside the compartment (26) and a machine (3) comprising: a control unit (11), a liquid supply and treatment unit (8) comprising an optical irradiation chamber (14) arranged for sanitizing liquid circulating therein and a connection assembly (15) for fluidly connecting the liquid supply and treatment unit (8) with the package (2); wherein the spout (27) comprises a fluid connector (28), with a liquid inlet (30), insertable through the connection assembly (15) of the liquid supply and treatment unit (8); wherein the fluid connector (28) is positioned after insertion through the connection assembly (15) in a position of insertion in which the liquid inlet (30) is exposed to the optical irradiation field produced by the optical irradia

Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff preparation material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising: a data sequence having a plurality of marker locations, whereby said marker locations either comprise or do not comprise a marker as a variable to at least partially encode the preparation information therein, with adjacent marker locations separated by a distance of ?x; at least one locator marker to enable location of the data sequence of the code, the locator marker having a read distance X2, which is distinct from a read distance X1 of the data markers to enable a locator marker to be identified.

Abstract: An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a; 1b) of two different heights (ha;hb) comprises a seat (11, 12, 13; 15) for receiving any of such cartridges (1a; 1b) for extraction thereof in the seat. The seat is delimited by a first part (11,12,13) and second part (15) that are relatively movable between a cartridge extraction position and a cartridge loading and/or ejection position. The first part (11,12,13) has a first portion (11,12) and a second portion (13) that are relatively movable to delimit a cavity (12?) having selectively: —a first depth (da) for receiving a cartridge (1a) of the first height (ha); and —a second depth (db) for receiving a cartridge (1b) of the second height (hb), the first part (11,12,13) has a lock (112?, 132, 132?, 142?) for locking the first and second portions (11,12,13) when the delimited cavity (12?) has the first depth (da) or the second depth (db).

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one electric heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol. The heater includes a heating element of a first cross section electrically connected to a plurality of elongate support elements. Each support element has a cross section greater than the first cross section. At least one of the support elements is integrally formed with the heating element.

Abstract: An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a; 1b) of two different dimensions (da, ha; db, hb) comprises a seat (14,20) for receiving any of these cartridges (1a; 1b) for extraction thereof in the seat. The seat is delimited by a first part (20, 30, 33) and second part (12,13,14) that are relatively movable between a cartridge extraction position and a cartridge loading and/or ejection position. The first delimiting part has a first member (30) and a second member (33) that are relatively movable between: —a first member position delimiting a cartridge cavity of a first depth (Ha) for receiving a cartridge (1a) having a first height (ha); and —a second member position in which the ca cartridge cavity has a second depth (Hb) different to the first depth (Ha) for receiving a cartridge (1b) having a second height (hb) different to the first height (ha).

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling aerosol production in an aerosol-generating device, the device including an aerosol-forming substrate, a heater including at least one heating element for heating the aerosol-forming substrate, and a power source for providing power to the heating element, the method including determining the temperature of the heating element; and adjusting the power to the heating element to maintain the temperature of the heating element within a desired temperature range, wherein the desired temperature range is dynamically calculated based on a measured flow rate of gas through or past the device. By controlling the temperature of the heating element, an aerosol with consistent and desirable properties can be produced.

Abstract: Container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine are disclosed that contain beverage or foodstuff preparation material and include a code encoding preparation information. Beverage or foodstuff preparation machines and systems that can be utilized with the container are also disclosed. Methods of producing and using the containers, machines, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Containers for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine that includes beverage or foodstuff preparation material and a code encoding preparation information are disclosed. Beverage or foodstuff preparation machines and systems that can be utilized with the container are also disclosed. Methods of producing and using the containers, machines, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A machine (1) comprises a frame (1?) and a capsule handling device (1?) mounted in and/or on the frame (1?). The device (1?) comprises: —a first part (10) that is movable relatively to the frame (1?) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing said capsule (2a,2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule and vice versa; —a second part (20) that has a capsule receptacle (21) delimiting a cavity (21?) for receiving such capsule (2a,2b) and for forming an extraction chamber (21?) with the first part (10) in its extraction position, the second part (10) comprising a first portion (21a) and a second portion (21b) that are relatively movable between a first relative position and a second relative position to change at least one dimension of the cavity (21?) and of the extraction chamber (21?); —an actuator (30,300) connected to the first part (10) for driving the movable first part (10) between the transfer position and the extraction position.

Abstract: An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a;1b) of two different dimensions (da,ha;db,hb) comprises a seat (14,20) for receiving any of these cartridges (1a;1b) for extraction thereof in the seat. The seat is delimited by a first part (20,30,33) and second part (12,13,14) that are relatively movable between a cartridge extraction position and a cartridge loading and/or ejection position over a closure distance (Ca,Cb). The first delimiting part (20,30,33) is extendable and retractable for defining a cartridge cavity having selectively: —a first depth (Ha) for receiving a cartridge (1a) having a first height (ha); and —a second depth (Hb) different to this first depth (Ha) for receiving a cartridge (1b) having a second height (hb) different to this first height (ha).