Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion: the reference portion comprising an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference point and a reference line r extending from said point; the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on an encoding line D, the encoding line D extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle a to the reference line r, the data unit arranged a distance d from the reference point as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine includes a fluid system comprising a fluid source, a pump, a heating element, at least two container holders adapted for receiving ingredient containers, and a control unit for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers. The control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage. The container holders differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types. Separate fluid injection interfaces have different structural and kinematic configurations and are arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers. Each interface is connected to the fluid system and adapted to a different container.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine includes a fluid system comprising a fluid source, a pump, a heating element, at least two container holders adapted for receiving ingredient containers, and a control unit for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers. The control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage. The container holders differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types. Separate fluid injection interfaces have different structural and kinematic configurations and are arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers. Each interface is connected to the fluid system and adapted to a different container.

Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and including a code encoding preparation information. The code has a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion including an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference line r, the data portion including a plurality of adjacent sectors arranged on an encoding line D. Each sector is bounded by a first circumferential position and a second circumferential position on the encoding line D, and each sector contains a data unit arranged on the encoding line D between the first and second circumferential positions. The data unit is arranged a distance d extending from the first circumferential position as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby the encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at an intersection point.

Abstract: A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion: the reference portion comprising reference units defining a reference line r; the data portion comprising a data unit, wherein said data unit is arranged on an encoding line D that intersects the reference line r, the data unit is arranged a distance d from said intersection as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby said encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at said intersection point, wherein the reference units are arranged with a configuration defining a reference point from which the reference line r extends.

Abstract: Container for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material comprises a code encoding preparation information, in particular preparation information for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine to prepare a beverage or a foodstuff with beverage or foodstuff material contained in the container, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion. The reference portion comprises at least one reference configuration defining a virtual reference line. The data portion comprises a virtual encoding line intersecting the virtual reference line at a virtual intersection point and a sequence of data units comprising at least two data units aligned at a distance from each other along the virtual encoding line for encoding a sequence of operations of the preparation information.

Abstract: An aspect is a spout including at least two parts relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts of the spout is presenting a measurable resistance to being connected to an engaging part of a beverage preparation device and/or to the relative movement of the two parts of the spout. Another aspect is a pack for preparing a food or beverage product including such a spout and also including a container configured to contain a product to prepare the food or beverage product. Other aspects are a system for preparing a food or beverage product including such a pack and also including a beverage preparation device that will introduce a fluid in the form of a jet inside the volume of the pack; and a method of determining if a food or beverage pack has been previously used in such a system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a fluid system comprising a fluid source (2), a pump (3), a heating element (4), at least two container holders (7a, 7b) adapted for receiving ingredient containers (11, 17), a control unit (8) for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers, wherein the control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage, wherein the container holders (7a, 7b) differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types and, and wherein it further comprises separate fluid injection interfaces (9a, 9b) having different structural and kinematic configurations, and arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers; each interface being connected to the fluid system and bein

Abstract: A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion: the reference portion comprising reference units defining a reference line r; the data portion comprising a data unit, wherein said data unit is arranged on an encoding line D that intersects the reference line r, the data unit is arranged a distance d from said intersection as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby said encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at said intersection point, wherein the reference units are arranged with a configuration defining a reference point from which the reference line r extends.

Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and including a code encoding preparation information. The code has a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion including an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference line r, the data portion including a plurality of adjacent sectors arranged on an encoding line D. Each sector is bounded by a first circumferential position and a second circumferential position on the encoding line D, and each sector contains a data unit arranged on the encoding line D between the first and second circumferential positions. The data unit is arranged a distance d extending from the first circumferential position as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby the encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at an intersection point.

Abstract: A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion: the reference portion comprising reference units defining a reference line r; the data portion comprising a data unit, wherein said data unit is arranged on an encoding line D that intersects the reference line r, the data unit is arranged a distance d from said intersection as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby said encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at said intersection point, wherein the reference units are arranged with a configuration defining a reference point from which the reference line r extends.

Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion comprising an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference line r, the data portion comprising: a plurality of adjacent sectors arranged on an encoding line D, whereby each sector is bounded by a first circumferential position and a second circumferential position on the encoding line D and each sector comprises a data unit arranged on the encoding line D between said first and second circumferential position, the data unit arranged a distance d extending from the first circumferential position as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby the encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at an intersection point.

Abstract: Container for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material comprises a code encoding preparation information, in particular preparation information for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine to prepare a beverage or a foodstuff with beverage or foodstuff material contained in the container, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion. The reference portion comprises at least one reference configuration defining a virtual reference line. The data portion comprises a virtual encoding line intersecting the virtual reference line at a virtual intersection point and a sequence of data units comprising at least two data units aligned at a distance from each other along the virtual encoding line for encoding a sequence of operations of the preparation information.

Abstract: The invention relates, amongst others, to a container (1) for use in a beverage preparation machine. The container (1) comprises: a sealed body (2) for containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage, the sealed body (2) comprising a back part and a front part (3), which are sealed along one or more first side edges (4). The front part (3) comprises one or more tabs (11, 21) integrally formed with the front part (3), wherein each of the one or more tabs (11, 21) has one or more second side edges (12-14, 14A, 22-14), wherein at least one of the one or more second side edges is at least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges (4).

Abstract: Container for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material comprises a code encoding preparation information, in particular preparation information for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine to prepare a beverage or a foodstuff with beverage or foodstuff material contained in the container, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion. The reference portion comprises at least one reference configuration defining a virtual reference line. The data portion comprises a virtual encoding line intersecting the virtual reference line at a virtual intersection point and a sequence of data units comprising at least two data units aligned at a distance from each other along the virtual encoding line for encoding a sequence of operations of the preparation information.

Abstract: Disposable foaming device (100) for foaming a fluid (1) comprising a container compartment (20) and a foaming compartment (10), the container compartment (20) being pressurized by primary incoming air (14?) so that the fluid (1) is driven into the foaming compartment (20), wherein the foaming compartment (20) is provided with secondary incoming air (15?) to be mixed with the fluid (1) coming from the container compartment (20), the foaming compartment (10) being designed in such a way that the mixture of air and fluid (1) is moved under certain level of shear stress calculated so that it allows the mixture of air and fluid (1) to be emulsified in the foaming compartment (10).

Abstract: Container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion (80) and a data portion (78). The reference portion (80) comprises three reference units (86) defining a reference line (81), the three reference units (86) being arranged at the vertices of an isosceles reference triangle having a reference apex angle. The data portion comprises discrete positions (75) at locations determined relative to the reference line (81), each discrete position either comprises or does not comprise a data unit (82) to at least partially encode the preparation information, wherein the discrete positions (75) are arranged at vertices of a grid of isomorphic tessellating isosceles data triangles, the data triangles having a data apex angle different from the reference apex angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stirring member (9) for using in a system for preparing a food product, the product being prepared by the stirring member (9) moving inside a container (8), the stirring member (9) being configured in such a way that it can adopt different configurations depending on its direction of rotation inside the container (8). Preferably, the stirring member (9) can adopt a spoon configuration or a whisk configuration. The invention further relates to a method for using such a stirring member (9) in a system for preparing a food product, the method varying the direction of rotation of the stirring member (9) so that it adopts a different configuration depending on the type of product prepared in the container (8).

Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion: the reference portion comprising an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference point and a reference line r extending from said point; the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on an encoding line D, the encoding line D extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle a to the reference line r, the data unit arranged a distance d from the reference point as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information.

Abstract: A machine for preparing frozen confectionery has the ability or characteristic of forming a seat used for accommodating an essentially cup-shaped container. The machine has a heat exchange element having a heat exchange contact surface arranged to be in contact with a heat exchange portion of the container when the container is placed in the machine. The heat exchange element has an inverted conical or curved shape or a number of inverted conical sections, or a combination of curved and inverted conical sections. The confectionery produced can be a frozen product, such as soft ice, or a chilled dessert, such as mousse or whipped yogurt.