Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preparing hot water provided with a pressure pump with a supply pipe for supplying relatively cold water to the pressure pump and an outlet connected to a heating pipe which is in heat-exchanging contact with a heating body, with an outlet valve in the heating pipe and a coffee holder, connected to the heating pipe, for accommodating a bed of coffee, whereby the heating body comprises a reservoir that is openly connected to the environment, with a heating element and water in the reservoir as a heat-exchange medium. A by-pass pipe (54) connects the inlet (57) and outlet (35) of the pressure pump (34) to each other, with a pressure-operated valve (56) in the by-pass pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage-preparation device (1, 40) provided with a storage container (2) for liquid, a dispensing (4, 43) line connected to the storage container (2), at least two beverage-dispensing stations (6, 7, 9) each provided with a collecting reservoir (11, 12, 18, 41, 42), which collecting reservoirs are movable with respect to the dispensing line, a driving device (5, 21, 22) which engages with the dispensing line and/or the collecting reservoirs for displacing the dispensing line with respect to the collecting reservoirs in order to selectively bring the collecting reservoirs into liquid communication with the dispensing line and a control unit for controlling the driving device, characterized in that, within a dispensing period Td, the control unit brings the dispensing line into liquid communication with a first collecting reservoir in order to dispense a predetermined amount of liquid to each collecting reservoir, then with a second collecting reservoir and after that again w

Abstract: The invention relates to a hotplate, comprising a metal plate part and an electric heating element fixed on the lower side of the plate part. The hotplate furthermore comprises a ring. The ring is made of electrically insulating plastic, and the plate edge is accommodated in a watertight manner on the inside of the ring.

Abstract: A device (24) for preparing a hot beverage, especially coffee, includes a water reservoir (4), a heating unit (11) connected to the water reservoir (4), delivery elements (16) connected to the heating unit with a delivery opening (19) for delivering hot water to a container (20) which during use contains an extract from which a beverage is to be made, water transport elements (12, 14) for transporting water from the heating unit (11) to the delivery element (16), and an air supply conduit (27) for supplying air to the hot water. The air supply conduit (27) discharges in or near the delivery element (16), upstream of the container (20), for cooling the water to be delivered by the delivery element (16) to the container (20), wherein the hot water before cooling has a temperature of at least 95° C., preferably at least 97° C., more preferably a temperature around the boiling point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixing device for mixing a liquid, such as water, with an instant ingredient to form a beverage. The mixing device comprises a mixing chamber and a rotor which, during rotation about the axis of rotation, defines a surface of revolution extending along the circumference of the rotor. The rotor is arranged in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber comprises a peripheral wall zone having a substantially circular cross section. The peripheral wall zone surrounds the surface of revolution. An outlet duct for discharging the mixture formed is connected to the mixing chamber. The inlet of the outlet duct is provided at the rotor. At least one rotor rib is provided at the peripheral wall zone. This rotor rib extends from the peripheral wall zone in the direction of the surface of revolution of the rotor.

Abstract: Preparing device for preparing a beverage from a powdery substance and a hot liquid, the device comprising: at least one mixing chamber for mixing a quantity of the powdery substance and a quantity of the hot liquid; an inlet into the mixing chamber for the quantity of hot liquid; an inlet into the mixing chamber for the quantity of powdery substance; an extractor hood placed on the mixing chamber; an extraction duct connected to the extractor hood and provided with a suction device, such as a ventilating fan, for extracting vapor and dust particles from the mixing chamber via the extraction duct and the extractor hood; a first housing accommodating further components of the preparing device, such as electrical components and pipework, in which the extraction duct extends entirely along the exterior of the first housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing device for mixing a liquid, such as water, with an instant ingredient to form a beverage. The mixing device comprises a mixing chamber and a rotor. The mixing chamber comprises an inlet chamber, a rotor chamber and a pipe bend. The inlet opening of the pipe bend extends in the horizontal plane. The rotor is provided in the rotor chamber. The internal wall of the pipe bend has, on the side of the outer curve, a planar surface which is defined by a first direction and a second direction. The first direction extends in the horizontal direction and the second direction extends at right angles to the first direction, at an angle to the horizontal plane. The planar surface is situated perpendicularly below the inlet opening of the bend.

Abstract: A draw-off valve for a drinks reservoir and a drinks reservoir provided with a draw-off valve of this type. The draw-off valve comprises a tubular body, a plunger member, and a spring member. Viewed in the direction of passage, the channel narrows, at an internal narrowing, from a first internal cross section to a second internal cross section; the narrowing forms a seat for the underside, facing the outlet, of the head. The spring member acts with bias, on the one hand, on the tubular body and, on the other hand, on the plunger in order to press the underside of the head against the seat. The seat and the underside of the head are formed in such a way that, when positioned against each other under the influence of the biasing of the spring member, they form a sealing closure of the channel.

Abstract: Water reservoir provided with a base and an upper surface disposed at a distance from the bottom section covered by a lid, wherein a substantially cylindrical pump cavity is formed in the bottom section, with a rotary displacement member arranged about a drive shaft disposed transversely upon the bottom section, wherein the pump cavity is closed off by a circular top plate supported by a support member in close proximity to an upper side of the pump cavity, wherein a motor support section extends from a top plate to the lid on which a motor is supported or at least partially supported, said motor being connected to the displacement member by a drive shaft, wherein the motor is positioned or at least partially mounted within the reservoir via a hole in the lid, and wherein the hole in the lid has a diameter larger than the circular top plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beverage dispenser (400) for preparing a warm instant drink. The beverage dispenser (400) comprises: a heating unit (100,200,300) for warm water; a container holder (40) for instant-ingredient; a mixing unit (46) for mixing instant-ingredient from the container holder with warm water from the heating unit,- and a nozzle (49) for supplying the prepared beverage. The heating unit comprises a closed, isolated, vessel (1), in particular having double walls (9,10,11), with a lower side formed by a bottom (9), an upper side formed by a ceiling (10) and a vertical centre line (13), extending in the vertical direction between the lower side and upper side; a heating element (5); a water inlet (12) for discharging through an inlet opening (14) into the interior (8) of the vessel; and a water outlet (15) for discharging from an outlet opening (16) in the interior of the vessel. The heating element is located in the interior of the vessel at a distance (A) above the bottom (9).

Abstract: Distributor (5) with at least two discharge channels (10,16) and feed channel (11) arranged at an equal distance from and parallel to a central shaft and a distributor body (12,17,18) arranged rotatably around the shaft with a feed end (12?) disposed along the shaft and a discharge end (12?) disposed at a radial distance therefrom, which, by way of rotation of the distributor body can be selectively and fluidly connected with the respective discharge channels, wherein the fluid feed channel extends along the central shaft and along the discharge channels, wherein the distributor body comprises a U-shaped connecting channel (12) and can be arranged together with the feed end rotatably in the line of projection of the feed channel in fluid connection with the respective discharge channels, characterized in that the U-shaped connecting channel is provided, in close proximity to an upper side, with a breather duct (32) (FIG.

Abstract: Distributor (5) with at least two discharge channels (10,16) which are positioned at the same distance from a central axis (13), parallel to this axis, a supply channel (11) and a distributor member (12,17,18) which is rotatable about the axis and has a supply end (12?) positioned along the axis and a discharge end (12?) which is set radially apart therefrom and can be brought by rotation of the distributor member selectively into fluid connection with the respective discharge channels, characterized in that the liquid supply channel extends along the central axis and along the discharge channels, the distributor member comprising a U-shaped connection channel which is placed at the supply end rotatably in the extension of the supply channel and can be placed at the discharge end in fluid connection with the respective discharge channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holder assembly (1) for a powdered ingredient (4) for preparing an instant drink. The assembly comprises a holder, a conveyor screw (6), an outflow channel (7) provided on the holder for dispensing ingredient (1), a threshold plate (9) extending into the outflow channel (7), and also a shut-off valve (10) for shutting off the outflow channel (7). The shut-off valve (10) comprises a shut-off body (11) which can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor screw (6) between a release position and a shut-off position. In the release position the shut-off body (11) is located downstream of the threshold plate (9), set apart therefrom. In the shut-off position the shut-off body (11) is located next to the threshold plate (9) in such a way that the shut-off body (11) and the threshold plate (9) together shut off the shut-off channel (7). The invention further relates to a drink preparation means comprising a holder assembly (1) according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hotplate, comprising a metal plate part and an electric heating element fixed on the lower side of the plate part. The hotplate furthermore comprises a ring. The ring is made of electrically insulating plastic, and the plate edge is accommodated in a watertight manner on the inside of the ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixing device for mixing a liquid, such as water, with an instant ingredient to form a beverage. The mixing device comprises a mixing chamber and a rotor which, during rotation about the axis of rotation, defines a surface of revolution extending along the circumference of the rotor. The rotor is arranged in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber comprises a peripheral wall zone having a substantially circular cross section. The peripheral wall zone surrounds the surface of revolution. An outlet duct for discharging the mixture formed is connected to the mixing chamber. The inlet of the outlet duct is provided at the rotor. At least one rotor rib is provided at the peripheral wall zone. This rotor rib extends from the peripheral wall zone in the direction of the surface of revolution of the rotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing device for mixing a liquid, such as water, with an instant ingredient to form a beverage. The mixing device comprises a mixing chamber and a rotor. The mixing chamber comprises an inlet chamber, a rotor chamber and a pipe bend. The inlet opening of the pipe bend extends in the horizontal plane. The rotor is provided in the rotor chamber. The internal wall of the pipe bend has, on the side of the outer curve, a planar surface which is defined by a first direction and a second direction. The first direction extends in the horizontal direction and the second direction extends at right angles to the first direction, at an angle to the horizontal plane. The planar surface is situated perpendicularly below the inlet opening of the bend.

Abstract: Preparing device for preparing a beverage from a powdery substance and a hot liquid, the device comprising: at least one mixing chamber for mixing a quantity of the powdery substance and a quantity of the hot liquid; an inlet into the mixing chamber for the quantity of hot liquid; an inlet into the mixing chamber for the quantity of powdery substance; an extractor hood placed on the mixing chamber; an extraction duct connected to the extractor hood and provided with suction means, such as a ventilating fan, for extracting vapour and dust particles from the mixing chamber via the extraction duct and the extractor hood; a first housing accommodating further components of the preparing device, such as electrical components and pipework, in which the extraction duct extends entirely along the exterior of the first housing, as well as an extraction duct.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filling level detection device for powdered material. The filling level detection device has a storage unit and a sensor. The storage unit has a container provided with a discharge aperture for discharging metered quantities of powdered material. The sensor has a light source for transmitting a light beam, and a detection unit for detecting a light intensity. A wall of the container at least in one zone is at least partially transparent to light transmitted by the light source. In addition, the sensor is placed outside the container in such a way that the light source directs the light beam onto the zone in the wall of the container, and the detection unit intercepts light reflected by the powdered material and emerging through the zone in the wall of the container. The light source and the detection unit are placed in one horizontal plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preparing hot water provided with a pressure pump with a supply pipe for supplying relatively cold water to the pressure pump and an outlet connected to a heating pipe which is in heat-exchanging contact with a heating body, with an outlet valve in the heating pipe and a coffee holder, connected to the heating pipe, for accommodating a bed of coffee, whereby the heating body comprises a reservoir that is openly connected to the environment, with a heating element and water in the reservoir as a heat-exchange medium. A by-pass pipe (54) connects the inlet (57) and outlet (35) of the pressure pump (34) to each other, with a pressure-operated valve (56) in the by-pass pipe.

Abstract: Disclosed is an installation for the preparation of hot water. The installation includes a cold water reservoir, a heating unit, a cold water pipe between the cold water reservoir and the heating unit, a draw-off point for drawing off hot water, a hot water pipe between the heating unit and the draw-off point and a pump for making water flow from the cold water reservoir through the cold water pipe, the heating unit and the hot water pipe to the draw-off point. A vent pipe is connected to at least one of the said pipes.