Abstract: The invention relates to method for preparing a foodstuff in a food processing system (100), the system comprising solid state radio frequency cooking means (51) that transmits an electromagnetic wave to a food substrate and a cavity where the food is cooked, the method monitoring the return power losses, which are the difference between the power emitted by the solid state radio frequency cooking means (51) and the reflected power in the cavity, for optimising the delivery of the radio frequency power to the food substrate by controlling and adjusting at least two parameters: the emitted frequency of the solid state radio frequency cooking means (51) and the distance of the cooking means (51) to the food substrate. In the method of the invention, the dielectric properties, the water content and/or the compaction of the food substrate are monitored throughout the preparation method.

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: The invention relates to method for preparing a foodstuff in a food processing system (100), the system comprising solid state radio frequency cooking means (51) that transmits an electromagnetic wave to a food substrate and a cavity where the food is cooked, the method monitoring the return power losses, which are the difference between the power emitted by the solid state radio frequency cooking means (51) and the reflected power in the cavity, for optimising the delivery of the radio frequency power to the food substrate by controlling and adjusting at least two parameters: the emitted frequency of the solid state radio frequency cooking means (51) and the distance of the cooking means (51) to the food substrate. In the method of the invention, the dielectric properties, the water content and/or the compaction of the food substrate are monitored throughout the preparation method.

Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (84) from a capsule (2) has: an external housing (10, 30, 30?, 40, 50, 60) having an external front face (10), two external spaced-apart lateral side faces (30,30?) that extend rearwards behind the external front face (10) and that face each other; a beverage outlet (11) located on the external front face (10) and above a front area (20) for placing a user-receptacle (3,4) for collecting beverage (84) from the outlet (11); and a capsule handling device (70) that has a first part (71) and a second part (72) that are relatively movable between a capsule transfer position and a capsule extraction position. At least one part (72) of the first and second parts (71,72) is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces (30,30?) so that the first and second parts (71,72) relatively move between the transfer and the extraction positions.

Abstract: There is described a beverage preparation machine, comprising a user interface for allowing a user interacting with the machine, the user interface comprising an input device (1, 1?, 1?) for selecting a value of a beverage parameter within a value range, wherein the input device (1, 1?, 1?) is a physical element, such as a knob or a slider, movable within a preferably finite movement range, and wherein the position of the input device (1, 1?, 1?) within the movement range corresponds to a selected value of the value range; a beverage preparation arrangement configured for preparing a beverage from one or more ingredients taking into account the selected value; a controller for controlling the user interface and the preparation arrangement; wherein the user interface further comprises a driver (2) connected to the input device (1, 1?, 1?) for providing haptic feedback to a user moving the input device (1, 1?, 1?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a food processing system (100) for preparing an edible mass of a food product starting from a raw food material, the system comprising: —one or a plurality of food containers (20), each one comprising a raw food material in form of dehydrated material and/or paste and/or chunks; —one or a plurality of dispensing and reconstituting chambers (10), each chamber being associated to at least one food container (20), each of the chambers (10) comprising a variable and/or exchangeable reconstitution and deposition device configured for hydrating and/or structuring and/or reconstituting in batches the raw food material provided by the one or more food containers (20) in order to create a homogeneous edible mass of food product, the device being further configured to deposit in-line with a controlled flow the edible mass of food product once prepared.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device for preparing hot and cold beverages, the device (30) comprising a hot extraction module (10) comprising a brewing unit (1) for injection of hot liquid into a beverage ingredients containing capsule, a hot beverage outlet (2) connected to the brewing unit (1) for dispensing of a hot extracted beverage, and a cooling module (20) comprising a cooling reservoir (5) for receiving the hot extracted beverage, wherein the hot beverage outlet (2) and the cooling module (20) are arranged moveably relative to each other such that the hot extracted beverage may be selectively dispensed from the hot beverage outlet (2) into the cooling reservoir (5) of the cooling module (20) in at least one relative position of the hot beverage outlet (2) and the cooling module (5).

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage from at least one ingredient (2) comprises: an ingredient processing module (3); an ingredient passage (4) having an ingredient mouth (41) for inserting along an insertion direction (42) an ingredient from outside such machine (1) into the ingredient processing module; and a cover (5) pivotable between a position covering the ingredient passage and a position uncovering the ingredient passage, The cover (5) is pivotable about a pivoting axis (51) that is generally parallel to the insertion direction (42) and/or that is generally perpendicular to the mouth (41) of the passage (4).

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of the beverage preparation machines having an ingredient processing module for preparing a beverage with at least one ingredient supplied with a capsule. The machine comprises a positioner arranged to hold at least one capsule out of the ingredient processing module. It further comprises a sensing arrangement adapted to detect an event related to the insertion by a user of a capsule and/or the presence of the capsule on or into the positioner. The machine is configured, upon detection of the event, to transfer the capsule to the ingredient processing module by using transfer means, and then to start the preparation of the beverage. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine providing a convenient and safe solution to fully automate the preparation of a beverage.

Abstract: The invention concerns a brewing unit (3) having a cavity for enclosing a food ingredient contained in a package (C), comprising first (14) and second (15) cavity parts, and fluid injection means (13), characterized in that said first and second cavity parts (14, 15) are hinged in a pivotal arrangement between open and closed positions and in that, when said cavity parts are pivoted in a closed position, the fluid injection means (13) and/or the first cavity part (14) are movable in translation relative to the second cavity part (15), between:—a closed unlocked position that allows relative pivotal movement between cavity parts, and—a closed locked position wherein said cavity parts are translated in contact with each other to close said brewing cavity, and wherein said injection means (13) protrude inside the brewing cavity to pierce a wall of the portion package.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of the beverage preparation machines having an ingredient processing module for preparing a beverage with at least one ingredient supplied with a capsule. The machine comprises a positioner arranged to hold at least one capsule out of the ingredient processing module. It further comprises a sensing arrangement adapted to detect an event related to the insertion by a user of a capsule and/or the presence of the capsule on or into the positioner. The machine is configured, upon detection of the event, to transfer the capsule to the ingredient processing module by using transfer means, and then to start the preparation of the beverage. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine providing a convenient and safe solution to fully automate the preparation of a beverage.

Abstract: The invention refers to a food processing management system governing a food processing system (100) for reconstitution and/or structuration and/or texturization of dehydrated food materials such as powders; the management system comprising a control unit (200) retrieving the information from a master recipe (401) from a database (400); the control unit (200) being further connected to a dosing system (50) for effecting the exchange of containers (20) comprising the dehydrated food materials, the control unit (200) further comprising reading means to retrieve the information on identification means in each container (20) in the dosing system (50); the control unit (200) sending operating instructions (101) to manage the food processing system (100) as a function of the master recipe (401).

Abstract: The invention concerns a food or beverage preparation machine (1) for preparing a flowable food product or a beverage by mixing a fluid with a precursor ingredient, said machine comprising: a base (2) having a fluid source, a pump means suitable for conducting said fluid from the source through fluid-conducting pipes to a fluid delivery port (9), and a functional element (3) detachable from the base (2), comprising connecting means (6, 7, 8) for connecting fluidly to the delivery port (9) of the base, characterized in that said base (2) and said detachable functional element (3) both have cooperating magnetic attachment means such that the detachable element and the base can be removably connected with an attracting magnetic effect, and then disconnected by rotating said detachable element relative to said base with a repelling magnetic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a partially collapsible dispensing container (100) extending along a longitudinal axis (110) between a first end and second end, the container comprising an opening (20) for dispensing fluid at said second end, wherein the container (100) comprises a collapsible part (102) and a retaining part (101), wherein the collapsible part and the retaining part are arranged successively along the longitudinal axis (110) and the collapsible part (102) is configured to collapse at least partially inside the retaining part (101) by the application of pressure substantially in a direction of the container longitudinal axis (110). The invention further relates to a system comprising a partially collapsible dispensing container and further comprising a mechanical actuation device (10) configured to apply a pressure on the collapsible part (102) of the container (100) substantially parallel to the container longitudinal axis (110) in order to allow dispensing of the fluid inside.

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: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (84) from a capsule (2) has: an external housing (10, 30, 30?, 40, 50, 60) having an external front face (10), two external spaced-apart lateral side faces (30,30?) that extend rearwards behind the external front face (10) and that face each other; a beverage outlet (11) located on the external front face (10) and above a front area (20) for placing a user-receptacle (3,4) for collecting beverage (84) from the outlet (11); and a capsule handling device (70) that has a first part (71) and a second part (72) that are relatively movable between a capsule transfer position and a capsule extraction position. At least one part (72) of the first and second parts (71,72) is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces (30,30?) so that the first and second parts (71,72) relatively move between the transfer and the extraction positions.

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage comprises: a mixing unit (10) for receiving a capsule (5) containing a pre-portioned flavoring ingredient; a liquid circuit (20) for circulating a liquid from a liquid reservoir (25) into the mixing unit for mixing said flavoring ingredient and said liquid to form the beverage (6); a beverage outlet (30) for dispensing such beverage upon formation to a beverage dispensing area (35) for supporting a user-cup or a user-mug (100); and a carrying handle (50) for seizing and carrying such machine single-handed. The carrying handle (50), in particular when seized single-handed during such carrying: extends over and above said beverage dispensing area (35); and/or has a seizure surface (51) forming a loop (52) in cross-section around the mixing unit (10) and/or the beverage outlet (30), the seizure surface being seizable by a single human hand (2) over a predominant part of the cross-sectional loop (52).

Abstract: A single-use dispensing container (10) designed for being inserted into a device (20) where chilled and/or frozen products are prepared in a processing container (30), the dispensing container (10) comprising a plurality of ingredient compartments (10a) each comprising at least one ingredient for the preparation of the chilled or frozen product, wherein the dispensing container (10) comprises identification means providing the device (20) with information of the parameters for dispensing, cooling, texturizing and mixing the ingredients of the plurality of ingredient compartments (10a), such that the ingredients from the plurality of ingredient compartments (10a) are dispensed directly into the processing container (30), the dispensing of the ingredients being done either sequentially or simultaneously for the plurality of ingredient compartments (10a), as a function of the chilled or frozen product targeted.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: an arrangement (40) for processing one or more beverage ingredients to dispense a beverage; a control unit (21) connected to the ingredient processing arrangement for controlling the processing of such one or more beverage ingredients; and a communication module (11) for communication with an external network (50, 511). The communication module (11) is prevented from controlling the ingredient processing arrangement (40).

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage comprises: a handle (10, 12) having a drive portion (12) arranged to be contacted and driven by a human hand to move the handle into a beverage preparation position; and a user-interface (20a) for initiating beverage preparation. This drive portion comprises this user-interface.