Abstract: The present invention relates to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients, the pack comprising an insert (10) and a container (20); the container (20) being configured by at least one flexible sheet folded in such a way to configure a container where one or more ingredients can be stored; such that the at least one flexible sheet is arranged overwrapping and matching the shape of the insert (10) in its entirety except for the part of the insert (10) in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20). Typically, the at least one flexible sheet is arranged tightly sealed over the insert (10). Also preferably, the distance of the insert (10) which is overwrapped in any of its transversal direction along its longitudinal axis is constant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beverage system (100) for providing beverage recipes comprising a foamable fluid unit (10) and one or more beverage units (200, 202), wherein the foamable fluid unit (10) is configured to provide a fluid and/or a foamed fluid directly into a container (12), the fluid system in the fluid unit (10) being continuously refrigerated up to the fluid delivery outlet during the preparation and during stand-by of the system (100); and wherein the beverage units (200, 202) are configured to dispense a beverage over the fluid and/or foamed fluid dispensed, without this beverage passing through any refrigerated area of the foamable fluid unit (10). The foamable fluid unit (10) comprises one or more fluid outlets (13, 13?) delivering the fluid and/or foamed fluid directly into the container (12), the beverage units (200, 202) comprising one or more separate beverage outlets (14, 14?) delivering the beverage over the fluid and/or foamed fluid into the container (12).

Abstract: The invention refers to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, the insert (10) comprising a fluid inlet (110) configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet (50) in the inner volume of the pack, and the insert (10) further comprising an air inlet (150) communicating with the exterior of the pack (100) and configured for introducing air in the inner volume of the pack (100). The invention further refers to the use of a pack (100) as described for preparing a food or beverage product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spout (10) comprising at least two parts (11,12) relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts (11,12) of the spout comprise means 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 (11,12) of the spout. Further, the invention relates to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a spout (10) as described and a container (30) configured to comprise a product to prepare the said food or beverage product The invention also refers to a system for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a pack (100) as described comprising a product and a beverage preparation device that will introduce a fluid in the form of a jet inside the volume of the pack (100), and to a method for determining if a food or beverage pack has been previously used in such a system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spout (10) comprising at least two parts (11, 12) relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts (11, 12) of the spout comprise means 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 (11, 12) of the spout, these means further comprising one or a plurality of indents or bumps (40, 50). Further, the invention refers to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a spout (10) as the one described and a container (30) configured to comprise a product to prepare the said food or beverage product, wherein the one or plurality of indents or bumps (40, 50) configure a code comprising the information on the product inside the container (30) and/or on the processing of the said product.

Abstract: The present invention presents a pumping system (1) with a preheated reservoir (2), a main pump (4) for pumping a preheated liquid (3) from the reservoir (2), and pressurizing means (5) for pressurizing the reservoir (2). Preferably, the pressurizing means set an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 1 bar in the reservoir (2). The liquid (3) in the reservoir (2) can be heated up to 90° C. or more. The present invention achieves a nearly complete suppression of the phenomenon of cavitation at the main pump entrance, and thus achieves an increased pumping performance at elevated liquid temperatures.

Abstract: Capsule for the preparation of a beverage comprising a container and a beverage ingredient contained therein, wherein the container comprises a code adapted for being identified or read by external reading means, wherein the code is arranged on the container to be read while the capsule is rotated around an axis of rotation traversing the capsule.

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 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: The invention relates to a food or beverage dispensing device (10) comprising holding means (30) accepting at least two containers (20, 20?) of similar configuration; the holding means (30) being configured to cooperate with receiving means (60) in the device (10) to insert and position the at least two containers (20, 20) in the device (10) for preparing a food or beverage, each container comprising at least an ingredient for the preparation of a food or beverage; the holding means (30) comprising positioning means (31) to position in a certain manner the containers in the holding means (30) and also comprising an interface area (32) for each of the containers placed, such that free access is left to operate the containers injecting a fluid for the preparation of the food or beverage and to open and/or close the dispensing outlet of the food or beverage prepared. The at least two containers (20, 20?) are configured as flexible pouches or sachets.

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

Abstract: Capsule for the preparation of a beverage comprising a container and a beverage ingredient contained therein, wherein the container comprises a code (65) adapted for being identified or read by external reading means (62), wherein the code is arranged on the container to be read while the capsule is rotated around an axis of rotation traversing the capsule.

Abstract: A cartridge dispenser (1) has: a receptacle (10) delimiting a cavity (10?) for storing cartridges (2); a cartridge outlet (11) for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from said cartridges (2), the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; and a cartridge transfer device (12,13,14) for transferring cartridges (2) from the cavity (10?) to the cartridge outlet (11). The cavity (10?) is so dimensioned that cartridges (2) can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations. The transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges (2) to the outlet (11) via an orientation-discrimination passage (15) which ensures that the cartridges (2) are delivered one at the time to the outlet (11) and that each cartridge (2,2a) that is delivered to the outlet (11) is in the predetermined orientation at the outlet (11).

Abstract: An instant tube heater for heating flowing liquid is disclosed that includes at least a hollow heating tube, an inlet connector, an outlet connector, and a temperature sensor. Also disclosed is a beverage preparation machine that includes the instant tube heater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, the insert (10) comprising at least a fluid inlet (110) configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the pack, the insert (10) further comprising at least an air conduit (130) configured to allow introducing air from the exterior of the pack and into the inner volume of the said pack through at least an air nozzle (132). The at least one fluid inlet (110) communicates with a depression chamber (200) through at least one liquid nozzle (120) in order to create a jet from a pressurized fluid introduced through the fluid inlet (110). The invention further relates to the use of a pack as described for preparing a food or beverage product.

Abstract: The invention refers to a fluid foaming machine (100) for producing foam comprising a fluid container (30) where the fluid is arranged, and a foaming device (40) through which fluid flows and is heated and/or foamed, the machine (100) further comprising at least a cooling unit configured to maintain permanently refrigerated both the fluid container (30) and the foaming device (40) during fluid preparation and during stand-by of the machine (100).

Abstract: A capsule for the preparation of a beverage can include a container and a beverage ingredient contained therein. The container can include at least one support having a section on which a plurality of sequences of symbols is represented; each symbol is sequentially readable, by a reading arrangement of an external device, while the capsule is rotated along an axis of rotation. Each sequence can code a set of information related to the capsule, and at least one of the sequences can include symbols defining a preamble sequence that allows determination of a position of the symbols in the associated sequence coding the set of information related to the capsule. The container can include a cup-shaped body having a flange-like rim and a lid connected to the body, the support can be on a bottom of the rim, and the bottom of the rim can be opposed to the lid.

Abstract: A capsule for preparation of a beverage includes a container and a beverage ingredient contained therein. The container includes a code adapted for being identified or read by external reading means, and the code is arranged on the container to be read while the capsule is rotated around an axis of rotation traversing the capsule.

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

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.