Patents Assigned to QBO COFFEE GMBH
  • Patent number: 11253099
    Abstract: A drinks preparation machine includes a preparation module for preparing a brewed drink from water and from an extraction material or extract and further includes a display device. The machine is configured to permit a user to make the setting of a first drinks quantity before a start of the drinks preparation, and after the start, during the drinks preparation, to permit the adjustment of a remaining drinks quantity, which is different from zero, via the operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Doreen Hartmann, Wolfgang Gödde
  • Patent number: 11026540
    Abstract: A method for operation of a drinks preparation machine serves for creating a total product from a first part-product and at least a second part-product and a third part-product. The method includes detecting a user input for specifying three quantity shares and creating a total product as a combination of the three part-products with quantities that correspond to the specified quantity shares. A graphic representation of the quantity shares is represented, each with a share display per quantity share, wherein a size of the share display is essentially proportional to the respective quantity share, and the size of at least one of the share displays and thus of the respective quantity share can be adapted in accordance with a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Gaurabh Mathure, Cesar Marchetti, Young Seo, Phil Robinson, Sophie Schwerdtfeger
  • Patent number: 11026538
    Abstract: A method for operating a drinks preparation machine, for producing a total product amid the use of a portion package, and according to a preparation prescript. The method includes detecting a portion code of a portion package by way of a portion recognition unit; determining first preparation parameters of the preparation prescript that are assigned to the portion code and are stored in the drinks preparation machine, and determining second preparation parameters of the preparation prescript, wherein at least one of the first and/or the second preparation parameters is an adaptable preparation parameter, and at least one preparation parameters is not adaptable; detecting a user input for adapting at least one adaptable preparation parameter; and preparing the total product according to the preparation prescript with at least one adapted preparation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Rafael Stasch, Rüdiger Ternitè, Robert Stein, Doreen Hartmann
  • Patent number: 10993575
    Abstract: A beverage-making machine for making a beverage from a portion capsule has a motorized brewing module that has a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which can be moved relative to the first brewing module part. A brewing chamber can be formed by the first and second brewing module parts, the brewing chamber at least partly surrounding the portion capsule. The beverage-making machine includes a closing unit and a sensor. The closing unit includes a manually actuatable operating lever that can be pivoted about a pivot axis between a closed position, in which the operating lever closes the capsule insertion opening, and an open position, in which the capsule insertion opening is accessible. The sensor can be used to ascertain whether the operating lever has assumed the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Krug, Sophie Schwerdtfeger
  • Patent number: 10918240
    Abstract: A beverage-making machine having a housing that has a capsule insertion opening through which a portion capsule is inserted and having a brewing module having a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part that is movable relative to the first brewing module part. A brewing chamber can be formed by the first and second brewing module parts, the brewing chamber at least partly surrounding the portion capsule which is in a brewing position during the brewing process in order to brew a brewed beverage and discharge same out of the portion capsule. The beverage-making machine also has an electric drive for moving the second brewing module part relative to the first brewing module part and a controller for controlling the electric drive. The controller determines the current position of the second brewing module part relative to the first brewing module part at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Rafael Stasch
  • Patent number: 10918239
    Abstract: A drinks preparation system includes a preparation module for a brewed drink, a milk module for the delivery of milk and at least one outlet that is designed such that the brewed drink and the milk can be delivered into one and the same drinks vessel, which is placed on a placement platform, i.e. without having to rearrange the drinks vessel between the delivery of the brewed drink and the delivery of the milk. The system further includes a display device with a graphic display for the display of the delivery drinks quantity in real time. The display device is configured to display the cumulative quantity of the delivered brewed drink and of the delivered milk via a common, graphic display element. The display element therefore shows a filling level, which represents an added quantity of the two drinks shares (brewed drink, delivered milk).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Doreen Hartmann, Nils Eckelt, Wolfgang Gödde
  • Patent number: 10820745
    Abstract: A capsule-detecting module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a single-serve capsule, including: an optical sensor, especially a camera, for detecting optical properties of the capsule located in a capsule detection position; a capsule detection window made of a transparent material and arranged between the capsule detection position and the camera; and a module cover that closes an access opening and is designed to be opened and/or removed without using any tools, the side of the capsule detection window facing the capsule detection position being accessible through the access opening when the module cover is open or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Claudio Foscan
  • Patent number: 10820744
    Abstract: A brewing module for a beverage-preparing machine includes a housing and first and second module parts. The housing has a capsule insertion opening through which the capsule can be inserted. The brewing module parts are movable relative to one another to form a brewing chamber in a first position. After movement from the first position to a second position a capsule located in the brewing chamber falls downward into a capsule container by the action of gravity while, in the second position, the brewing module parts cause a capsule inserted through the capsule insertion opening to be stopped vertically above a height of the brewing position at a capsule detection position. In a third position, a capsule at the capsule detection position can fall downward from the capsule detection position, substantially to the height of the brewing position. The second position is between the first position and the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Pascal Tanner, Claudio Foscan
  • Patent number: 10786111
    Abstract: A drinks preparation machine for preparing brewed drinks from a portion package with an extraction material includes a water tank, a pump, a water heater and a brewing chamber for receiving the portion package. The pump delivers water from the water tank into the brewing chamber via the water heater. A temperature sensor measures a temperature along the fluid path including an initial temperature at the location of the temperature sensor at least in one operating condition after a switching-on procedure or waking-up procedure and before a possible heating-up procedure of the water heater, and, after the water heater has reached an operating temperature, to carry out a rinsing procedure of the brewing chamber with water from the water heater, when and only when the measured initial temperature corresponds to a certain condition, and only subsequently to effect an introduction of the portion package into the brewing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Tiedemann, Rüdiger Ternité
  • Patent number: 10638872
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk, and an electrically operated drive for delivering and/or frothing the milk. The appliance includes a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine, —an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Qbo Coffee GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10588450
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. The milk frothing unit is configured such that an operating parameter is adjustable in a manner depending on a measured value and/or on a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10582799
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk and a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk. The docking element includes a main body with a plurality of fluid channels and a supplementary part, which is reversibly removable from the main body. The supplementary part has a material that is softer in comparison to the main body, is continuous and includes several elements through which milk, steam, water and/or air can flow and which engage into the fluid channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10575676
    Abstract: A capsule recognition module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed beverage from a single serve capsule includes: an optical sensor for sensing optical properties of the capsule that is located in a capsule recognition position, a capsule recognition window that is made of a transparent material and is located between the capsule recognition position and the camera, and a fan for generating an air flow from the capsule recognition window towards the capsule recognition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Pascal Tanner, Claudio Foscan
  • Patent number: 10568454
    Abstract: An appliance that is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine, for preparing frothed milk and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current delivered from the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. A mixing nozzle is provided on a path of milk delivered by the gear pump, to which mixing nozzle this milk, the steam as well as the air can be fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10463189
    Abstract: An extraction appliance with a brewing module for forming a brewing chamber for a portion capsule, with a water feed comprising a pump and a water heater for feeding water under pressure to the brewing chamber. The extraction appliance includes a control for the pump that can be integrated into the pump or be present at least partly externally of the pump, as well as a device for measuring the fluid flow into the brewing chamber. The control is configured such that a pump power of the pump is dependent on the fluid flow, and specifically such that given a lower fluid flow, the pump power is reduced in comparison to a greater fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Conrady, Claudio Foscan
  • Patent number: 10376089
    Abstract: A system for preparing a brewed product, the system including a portion capsule containing an extraction material, and an extraction appliance for preparing the brewed product from the extraction material contained in the portion capsule. The extraction appliance has an injection device for introducing a brewing liquid into the portion capsule and an extraction device for driving an extraction product out of the portion capsule. The injection device and the extraction device define between them an accommodation space for the portion capsule. The extraction device has a pressure device, by which a wall of the portion capsule inserted in the accommodation space, which wall faces toward the extraction device, can be pressed in toward the capsule interior in order to compact the extraction material contained in the portion capsule before the injection device introduces brewing liquid into the portion capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Louis Deuber, Rüdiger Ternité
  • Patent number: 10307011
    Abstract: A brewing module for an extraction appliance has a first brewing-module part and a second brewing-module part, which can be moved relative to the first. The first and second brewing-module parts form a discharging device for discharging an extraction product out of a capsule, containing extraction substance for the preparation of brewed beverages, and an injector for introducing an extraction liquid into the capsule. The first brewing-module part has a head with a lateral guide, which defines first and second tracks for a capsule collar. The first brewing-module part also forms a rest delimiting movement of the capsule in the downward direction when the capsule collar is located on the first track. The lateral guide is connected rigidly to the head, and the second brewing-module part has a restoring device, which acts on the capsule collar and moves the collar into the second track when the brewing chamber is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Louis Deuber
  • Patent number: 10244887
    Abstract: A coffee capsule is provided, the outer dimensions of which are matched to the size of a filtered-coffee capsule, but which has a separating element that separates an empty area from an extraction-material area. Furthermore, at least one liquid channel is provided, which passes through the empty area for example. The liquid channel or liquid channels and the extraction-material area are designed in such a way that water introduced into the capsule at an injection location or a beverage produced in the capsule substantially does not enter the empty area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Louis Deuber
  • Publication number: 20180352996
    Abstract: A beverage-making machine for making a beverage from a portion capsule has a motorized brewing module that has a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which can be moved relative to the first brewing module part. A brewing chamber can be formed by the first and second brewing module parts, the brewing chamber at least partly surrounding the portion capsule. The beverage-making machine includes a closing unit and a sensor. The closing unit includes a manually actuatable operating lever that can be pivoted about a pivot axis between a closed position, in which the operating lever closes the capsule insertion opening, and an open position, in which the capsule insertion opening is accessible. The sensor can be used to ascertain whether the operating lever has assumed the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: QBO Coffee GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg KRUG, Sophie SCHWERDTFEGER
  • Patent number: 10039410
    Abstract: A capsule to form a closed interior filled with an extraction product or extract can be perforated in a known manner by perforation elements of an injection device or a discharge device in order to introduce an extraction liquid and to discharge an extraction product produced in the interior of the capsule following an extraction process. The capsule has the shape of a cuboid or a die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Louis Deuber