Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (1) for preparing of a nutritional composition from a powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base, the container (1) comprising: —liquid inlet means (6) designed to be supplied with liquid from liquid dispensing means (20), —an adaptor (4) being provided with engagement means (2) for connecting the container (1) to matching engagement means (20a) of the liquid dispensing means (20), and —a flexible wall portion (31), connected to the liquid inlet means (6) and at least partially defining a compartment (3) for containing a predefined amount of powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base (5) for the preparation of the nutritional composition (5a) upon hydration with the supplied liquid, wherein the flexible wall portion (31) is expandable in a manner that the volume of the compartment increases from a retracted position to an expanded position allowing a sufficient volume of liquid to be supplied into the compartment (3) through said liquid

Abstract: A cartridge (1) containing a food substance adapted to interact with water injected in the cartridge to produce a food liquid comprising: a cup (2) having a chamber for holding the food substance (10) and a lid (7), a puncturable delivery wall (8) that holds the substance in the chamber, a puncturing structure (11) to puncture at least one opening in the delivery wall as a response of water filling the chamber, a collecting area (5) for collecting the liquid passing through the delivery wall in a substantially axial direction; said collecting area being placed downstream the puncturable delivery wall (8), at least one liquid outlet (15) in the collecting area for allowing the liquid to leave the collecting area, wherein the cartridge comprises a support structure (12) comprising at least one support surface (14, 17, 18, 19) configured to support at least one portion of the delivery wall to maintain a flow gap between the puncture structure (11) and the at least one outlet (15).

Abstract: Capsule and filter unit for the preparation of a nutritional product in a device adapted to supply liquid in the capsule. The capsule is constructed to have at least one compartment containing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of the nutritional product in combination with the supplied liquid, and a filter adapted for removing contaminants contained in the liquid. The filter is formed as a relatively rigid filter unit that includes a filter membrane and an outlet wall for supporting the filter membrane. The outlet wall has at least one liquid outlet communicating with the compartment.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a beverage machine (1) comprising a tank (2), which holds a liquid for preparing a beverage, and a dispenser (7), to which the tank is connectable, wherein the tank (2) comprises a valve (8); the dispenser comprises an opening (9) for receiving the valve in connection of the tank on the dispenser; at least one ultrasonic transceiver (3) is disposed in the dispenser (7) or tank (2), the ultrasonic transceiver being designed to emit and receive ultrasonic waves (4a, 4b) in the liquid, in order to determine the distance (d) from the transceiver to the liquid level (5), wherein it further comprises a control unit (6), which is connected to the ultrasonic transceiver (3) which is adapted to determine the distance (d) changing with time and as a result the volume (V) of the liquid flowing out of the tank.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the consumption by an infant of beverages produced from capsules in a beverage production machine. Capsule information regarding a plurality of different types of capsules is stored in a server. Further at least one user account including personal information about the infant consuming beverage produced from capsules is stored in said server. A beverage is produced from a capsule and the capsule used therefore by the beverage production machine is identified. The information on the identified capsule is transmitted to the server; such information including at least the date and time the beverage is prepared.

Abstract: A device for preparing a nutritional composition by supplying water to ingredients provided to the device includes a pump connected to an integrated or external water supply, and a water discharge head designed for providing water to a cartridge containing ingredients for interaction between water and the ingredients in the cartridge. The pump and the water discharge head are in water communication via a water flowpath, and the pump can supply water under pressure through the water flowpath The device includes a rigid filter assembly having at least one antimicrobial filter membrane and filter enclosing member. The filter assembly and the filter enclosing member are complementary configured such that the filter assembly is insertable into the filter enclosing member across the water flowpath in a fluid tight manner before the water discharge head, and is removable from the filter enclosing member.

Abstract: Nutritional delivery system using single-serve capsules comprising: a dispenser for a nutritional composition comprising means for providing water into a single-use capsule containing a portion-controlled serving of a nutritional formula; different types of capsules (10,11,12,13,14,15,16) being designed according to a nutritional feeding plan corresponding to persons or categories of persons to be fed, each type comprising capsules containing a nutritional formula; the capsules of different types having at least one differentiating characteristic so that each type of capsules corresponds to a feeding time period determined by the feeding plan; control operation means associated to each type of capsules, said means comprising information relating to at least one differentiating operational parameter relevant to produce and deliver a differentiated nutritional liquid in the dispenser according to the feeding plan.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-use feeding bottle (1) for dispensing an aqueous nutritional composition (5a) to a human from a powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base (5) contained therein and being provided with means (2) for connecting the bottle (1) to external liquid dispensing means (20) adapted to supply liquid to the bottle (1), the bottle (1) comprising at least one compartment (3) forming a cavity for containing a predefined amount of powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base (5) for the preparation of the nutritional composition (5a) upon hydration with the supplied liquid, a neck portion (4) in fluid communication with the compartment (3), and liquid inlet means (6) designed to be supplied with liquid from the liquid dispensing means (20), the bottle (1) furthermore comprising a filter assembly (7) in the flow path of the liquid from the inlet means (6) to the compartment (3), the filter assembly being configured to remove contaminants from liquid fed into the com

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter cap (1) for filtering liquid and dispensing an aqueous nutritional composition to a human, the filter cap (1) comprising a liquid inlet means (6) designed to be supplied with liquid from external liquid dispensing means (20), an adaptor (2) for connecting the filter cap (1) to the liquid dispensing means (20), connection means (2) designed for selectively connecting an opening (10) of the filter cap (1) to a container (3) designed to hold a powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base (5) for the preparation of the nutritional composition (5a) upon hydration with the supplied liquid, and a filter assembly (7) in the flow path of the liquid from the inlet means (6) to the opening (10), the filter assembly (7) being configured to remove contaminants from liquid fed into the container through the inlet means (6).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container (1) for preparing of a nutritional composition from a powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base, the container (1) comprising: —liquid inlet means (6) designed to be supplied with liquid from liquid dispensing means (20), —an adaptor (4) being provided with engagement means (2) for connecting the container (1) to matching engagement means (20a) of the liquid dispensing means (20), and —a flexible wall portion (31), connected to the liquid inlet means (6) and at least partially defining a compartment (3) for containing a predefined amount of powdered or concentrated liquid nutritional formula base (5) for the preparation of the nutritional composition (5a) upon hydration with the supplied liquid, wherein the flexible wall portion (31) is expandable in a manner that the volume of the compartment increases from a retracted position to an expanded position allowing a sufficient volume of liquid to be supplied into the compartment (3) through said liquid

Abstract: Capsule for the preparation of a nutritional product in a device adapted to supply liquid in the capsule, said capsule comprising: at least one compartment (13) containing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of the nutritional product in combination with the supplied liquid, a filter (18) adapted for removing contaminants contained in the liquid, wherein the filter (18, 20) has a filtering surface (F) smaller than the cross section (C) of the compartment and at least a part of its filtering surface (F) is preferably offset relative to the cross section (C) of the compartment when viewed in the axial projection of the capsule.

Abstract: A dispenser for a nutritional composition comprises a water reservoir, water heating means, water discharge means, a bacterial filter between the water heating means and the water discharge means such that heated water passes though the filter prior to discharge from the dispenser, and means to heat surfaces of the dispenser which come into contact with filtered water.

Abstract: Insert (20A) for use in a food preparation machine, the insert being adapted for being engaged by a fluid supplying interface (5) of the machine; such interface comprising a liquid injector (7) and a gas injector (8); both being transversally distant one another along the interface; the insert comprising a fluid interface side (21) and a fluid supply side (22); the fluid interface side (21) comprising a liquid inlet (23) designed for fitting with the liquid injector (7); the fluid supply side (22) comprising a liquid outlet (24) transversally distant from the liquid inlet (23) and, a liquid passage (26) providing liquid communication from the liquid inlet (23) to the liquid outlet (24); wherein the insert comprises a gas injector area (25) between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet and wherein the insert (20A) comprises a liquid separation structure (29) arranged for closing the liquid communication from the liquid passage (26) to the gas injector area (25).

Abstract: Production machine (1) for beverages and liquid comestibles, the machine comprising: a housing (20); a capsule holder designed for insertion into the housing (20), wherein the capsule holder comprises a capsule receiving means (11); a liquid injection assembly (4a, 4b) provided in the housing (20). The capsule holder and the machine are designed such that the capsule holder can be transferred manually, via a relative movement of the capsule holder and the housing of the machine, at least between: —a first capsule loaded position, in which any capsule (30) received in the capsule holder is positioned ready for being engaged by the liquid injection assembly (4a, 4b) and, —a second capsule loading position adapted for loading a capsule outside of the housing (20). Complementary stopping means of the capsule holder and the housing are provided which are configured to automatically engage each other to stop the capsule holder in the second capsule loading position.

Abstract: A capsule for use in a beverage production device, the capsule containing ingredients to produce a nutritional or food liquid when a liquid is fed into the capsule at an inlet face thereof, with the capsule being provided with a filter having a plurality of filtering orifices and a flow collection member placed downstream of the filter to collect the filtered liquid from the filtering orifices. The collection member includes at least one restriction orifice to focus the flow of liquid in at least one jet of liquid at high velocity in the compartment containing the ingredients. The invention is particularly advantageous for producing a nutritional liquid (e.g., infant formula) or a food from powdered ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention presents a capsule 1 having an inlet face C, which is formed by a circular section 2a and a bulge section 2b extending from the circular section 2a giving the inlet face C a not symmetric in rotation. The capsule 1 further has an optically readable code 3 on a side wall 4 of a cup-shaped body of the capsule 1 opposite the bulge section 2b. The present invention further presents a beverage production machine with a capsule holder 13 for holding a capsule 1 in such a way in the beverage production machine 10, that the optically readable code can be read by a code reader 24. Liquid can be supplied to the capsule to produce a nutritional product. The present invention provides means to prevent the optically readable code 3 and the code reader 24, respectively, from being contaminated with liquid, vapor, dirt or the like.

Abstract: Dispensing device for preparing and dispensing food and/or nutritional composition comprising: a water circuit for transporting water, a water heater, an injection head (4) comprising an injection intruding part (25, 38) for injecting water in a capsule comprising the food and/or nutritional ingredient; a capsule holder (17) for holding the capsule during injection of water in the capsule, wherein the injection head and capsule holder are moveable relatively one another for approaching the capsule surface to the injection head and injecting water in the capsule, wherein it also comprises a cleaning and/or sanitizing means (13) which can be associated to the injection system for enabling hot water and/or steam to clean and/or sanitize the external surface of the injection intruding part.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a beverage machine (1) comprising a tank (2), which holds a liquid for preparing a beverage, and a dispenser (7), to which the tank is connectable, wherein the tank (2) comprises a valve (8); the dispenser comprises an opening (9) for receiving the valve in connection of the tank on the dispenser; at least one ultrasonic transceiver (3) is disposed in the dispenser (7) or tank (2), the ultrasonic transceiver being designed to emit and receive ultrasonic waves (4a, 4b) in the liquid, in order to determine the distance (d) from the transceiver to the liquid level (5), wherein it further comprises a control unit (6), which is connected to the ultrasonic transceiver (3) which is adapted to determine the distance (d) changing with time and as a result the volume (V) of the liquid flowing out of the tank.

Abstract: Capsule for the preparation of a beverage from beverage ingredients contained therein, comprising a body (2) comprising at least one compartment for receiving said beverage ingredients and a flange-like rim (4) extending outwardly and transversally to a central axis (I) of said body; a membrane (6) for closing the opening which is sealed onto the flange-like rim, an optical code (7) containing binary information configured to be read by a camera (11) of a beverage producing device (20), wherein the optical code (7) is a two-dimensional barcode having rectilinear borders (7a-7d) and which is inscribed in a circular area (8) concentric relative to the centre (O) of the membrane having a radius (R) smaller than the radius (R0) of the membrane.

Abstract: Method for providing information to a user from a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage producing device (20) comprising providing a capsule with a two-dimensional barcode (7) thereon, capturing at least one image of the barcode via a digital camera (42) and displaying decoded information from said image on a display (41).