Abstract: A clamp assembly a fixed end support, a movable end support and a handle disposed in one end support or the other. The handle is rotated using an electric tool, such as a drill. A female receiver is disposed within a rearward end of the handle. A male driver is removably held within a chuck of the electric drill and is inserted into the receiver to rotate and then tighten or loosen the support end of the clamp. Alternatively, the clamp assembly has a male portion that is disposed at a rear portion of an end support and a female driver is used to rotate and then tighten or loosen the clamp from the wood pieces. The female receiver and male driver can be used with either a movable end support or a stationary end support of the clamp, as could the male portion and the female driver.

Abstract: A cup conveyor and holder device (1) for a beverage dispensing machine comprises a body (2) into which cups (C1-C3) are vertically dropped for filling with a drink and/or being delivered to the user; the internal surface of the body (2) is provided with at least two steps (3, 4, 8) transversal to the cup dropping direction (X), at different heights of said body (2) with respect to the same direction (X), for vertically supporting said cups (C1, C2, C3) at different diameters.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for hot beverages is provided with a device (4,5) to filter hot, pressurized water through ground edible ingredients such as coffee, tea or herbal remedies in a chamber, a controlling unit (16) storing data, and two pistons operated independently by two motors to control the volume and/or the position of the brewing chamber.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing machine, for instance a coffee machine, provided with a brewing chamber and at least one valve for totally and/or partially blocking the beverage from exiting the chamber. Advantageously, the valve is an electrovalve, in particular a piezoelectric valve, which is continuously controllable to adjust the beverage flow rate being permitted to exit the chamber.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a beverage by mixing water and at least one powdered product in a mixing chamber and dispensing the mixture to a final container. The method includes preparation and delivery of at least a first portion of beverage by mixing a first soluble product with water, either in the absence of mechanical stirring or with rotating a rotor at a rotor rotation speed of less than 500 rpm. The method also includes the preparation and delivery of at least a second portion of beverage by mixing a second soluble product with water in the presence of mechanical stirring and for the delivery of further portions of beverage to the final container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brewing unit for a coffee machine. The brewing unit comprises a brewing chamber in which a dose of coffee powder can be put, an inlet for supplying water to the chamber for preparing a coffee beverage, a first piston providing a moveable wall for adjusting the chamber internal volume, which wall has an outlet connected to a spout for delivering the coffee beverage to the user, and a valve assembly for connecting said spout to the brewing chamber or the atmosphere according to the position of the supporting means. Advantageously a second piston is provided which moves the first piston and supports the valve assembly. The second piston is also moveable with respect to the first piston, for actuating the valve assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brewing unit for a coffee machine. The brewing unit comprises a brewing chamber in which a dose of coffee powder can be lodged, an inlet for supplying water to the chamber for preparing a coffee beverage, a first piston providing a moveable wall for adjusting the chamber internal volume, which wall has an outlet for delivering the coffee beverage out from the chamber, and a valve assembly for opening/closing said delivery outlet. Advantageously a second piston is provided which moves the first piston and supports the valve assembly. The second piston is also moveable with respect to the first piston, for actuating the valve assembly.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for hot beverages is provided with means (4,5) to filter hot pressurised water through ground edible ingredients such as coffee, tea or herbal remedies in a chamber, has two or more pumps to feed water to said brewing chamber (2,82); the pumps are connected in series.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a beverage dispensing machine. The apparatus performs the method and the method includes steps of monitoring, through a sensing device, the ingredient amount/level and/or the shape of the surface of the ingredient within the container, comparing the monitored value with a reference value stored in a machine control unit, and changing one or more operative parameters of the beverage dispensing machine, when necessary on the basis of the comparison. The monitoring may include detecting a distance between the sensing device, which is positioned above the ingredient, and at least one point of an upper surface of the ingredient. The operative parameters may be operating time of the machine to draw the ingredient from the container, an amount of ingredient drawn from the container, and an operating time or condition of other machine units.

Abstract: A device for the grinding of coffee, for instance in (semi)automatic machines for the preparation and the dispensing of drinks, comprising a housing (11), inside which are positioned at least two milling heads (19, 25) of which at least one (19) is revolving, means (2) of driving said at least one revolving milling head (19), an inlet (32) for feeding the coffee between the milling heads (19, 25) and an exit (35) for the ground coffee. Advantageously, the housing (11) and the milling heads (19, 25) internal to it are coupled to the means of driving (2) through an insert-and-lock joint (12, 13, 18, 218, 20, 120) that allows their rapid removal and reassembly without the aid of tools. Preferably the device includes means of regulating the relative distance between the milling heads and at least one sensor (S) for the measurement of such distance and/or a sensor (S1) of the speed of rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for hot beverages is provided with means (4,5) to filter hot pressurized water through ground edible ingredients such as coffee, tea or herbal remedies in a chamber, means (17,18,20) of monitoring real-time data concerning brewing parameters; a controlling unit (16) comprising means of storing data, means of comparing the real-time data to a set of stored data and/or threshold parameters, stored in the controller's memory associated with the brewing system, to determine whether a correction to the parameters should be made, and means (8,9,24) of altering at least one of the relevant brewing parameters, when required to bring said real time parameter in line with said recorded parameter to obtain consistent high quality of the dispensed beverage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brewing unit for a coffee machine. The brewing unit comprises a brewing chamber in which a dose of coffee powder can be lodged, an inlet for supplying water to the chamber for preparing a coffee beverage, a first piston providing a moveable wall for adjusting the chamber internal volume, which wall has an outlet for delivering the coffee beverage out from the chamber, and a valve assembly for opening/closing said delivery outlet. Advantageously a second piston is provided which moves the first piston and supports the valve assembly. The second piston is also moveable with respect to the first piston, for actuating the valve assembly.

Abstract: The inventive device comprises telecommunications transceiver interacting with a network for data exchange and a user interface interacting with the telecommunications transceiver for displaying information extracted from received data, wherein telecommunications transceiver is arranged for receiving meteorological data from which a display for the user interface is extracted. Telecommunications transceiver is connected for spontaneously interacting with a station for defining a geographic area and for accessing, in a substantially uniform manner, to a data set containing forecast pluvial/duration pairs which are valid for the geographic area for consecutive periods, the data set being dated by a time marker. The user interface is provided with a range of ordinate display segments, each of which is provided with several display states.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for controlling a beverage dispensing machine comprising the steps of monitoring, through a sensing means, the ingredient amount/level and/or the shape of the surface of the ingredient within the container, comparing the monitored value with a reference value stored in a machine control unit, and changing one or more operative parameters of said beverage dispensing machine, when necessary on the basis of said comparison.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for removing, or substantially reducing, the limescale deposits within a water heater of a beverage dispensing machine, by inducing ultrasonic vibrations through an ultrasonic generator. Advantageously the step of inducing ultrasonic vibrations is implemented discontinuously at high energy levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing machine, for instance a coffee machine, provided with a brewing chamber and at least one valve for totally and/or partially blocking the beverage from exiting the chamber. Advantageously, the valve is an electrovalve, in particular a piezoelectric valve, which is continuously controllable to adjust the beverage flow rate being permitted to exit the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for supplying liquids comprising heating elements (3) heating up said liquids and an electric drive pumping group (101). The characteristic is that the pumping group (101) comprises an intake (102) and at least a first and second intake duct (8a-8b, 8c-8d, 8e-8f), and is further equipped with an impeller (11a, . . . , 11c), said first and second intake duct (8a-8b, 8c-8d, 8e-8f) being selectively activated according to the direction of rotation of said impeller (11a, . . . , 11c) of the pumping group (4a, . . . , 4c).

Abstract: Controlling and adjusting of the operation of a device actuated by an electric motor are carried out by shutting down the electric power supply of said electric motor at a plurality of time intervals during the motor operation, measuring in the time interval the voltage supplied by the electric motor, comparing the value of the measured voltage with a reference value and, if required on the basis of said comparison, varying at least one parameter related to the functioning of the device in order to compensate possible deviations.

Abstract: A cup conveyor and holder device (1) for a beverage dispensing machine comprises a body (2) into which cups (C1-C3) are vertically dropped for filling with a drink and/or being delivered to the user; the internal surface of the body (2) is provided with at least two steps (3, 4, 8) transversal to the cup dropping direction (X), at different heights of said body (2) with respect to the same direction (X), for vertically supporting said cups (C1, C2, C3) at different diameters.

Abstract: A synthetic fire opal having similar physical and chemical properties as natural fire opal. The synthetic fire opal is colored, hard, and transparent. The synthetic fire opal comprises SiO2 and water.