Abstract: An electric beverage preparation machine has an arrangement for processing one or more beverage ingredients to dispense a beverage; a control unit connected to the beverage processing arrangement for controlling the processing of one or more beverage ingredients; a beverage user-selector for requesting a beverage; an operative mode in which such machine is immediately ready to process one or more beverage ingredients; and a start-up mode in which such machine is not ready to process one or more beverage ingredients and is brought into the beverage preparation mode from a low electric consumption standby mode or from an electrically switched off state. The control unit is arranged to store in the start-up mode any beverage request via the beverage user-selector and initiate automatically the processing of one or more beverage ingredients upon entering the operative mode after leaving the start-up mode.

Abstract: A device for preparing a liquid food or beverage having an outermost housing with faces that are arranged to shield at least part of a liquid food or beverage module. A face of the housing has a connection to an appliance. This face is arranged to support mechanically such an appliance. The connection is disconnectably connectable by a user to the appliance. The housing is so arranged that the appliance is removably mountable onto the housing face by a user.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage that includes a liquid food or beverage module having a liquid or beverage outlet; a support device that is located under the beverage outlet and that has an arrangement for evacuating liquid; and a collector, such as drip tray, for collecting liquid evacuated by the support device. The support device has a dispensing area on or above which a recipient may be placed for collecting a liquid food or beverage dispensed from the outlet. The support device also includes a non-dispensing area adjacent to the dispensing area, the non-dispensing area being arranged to support recipients upon use and for evacuating liquid to the collector.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage has an outermost housing that includes a top part and downwardly extending sidewalls which cover and shield at least part of a liquid food or beverage module. The downwardly extending sidewalls have a portion that forms, optionally together with a portion of the top part, a grip seizable by a human hand such that the machine can be carried and displaced single handed by seizure of the grip.

Abstract: A modular method of manufacturing a set of beverage production machines with different beverage-related functions. The machines are designed for producing a beverage on the basis of pre-portioned ingredient packages. The method includes providing a plurality of identical core units having control circuitry and a beverage production module for housing an ingredient package and feeding a liquid to the interior of the ingredient package, providing a plurality of different base platforms that differ as to beverage production functions, and manufacturing a set of different beverage production machines by mounting respectively at least one of the core units on a top surface of one of the differing base platforms while also mounting water reservoirs on the base platforms.

Abstract: A machine for preparing liquid food or beverage from a beverage or food ingredient contained in a capsule or pod. The machine includes a liquid food or beverage preparation unit arranged to receive capsules or pods for use and evacuate capsules or pods after use; a housing having an opening leading into a seat to which capsules or pods are evacuated from the preparation unit; and a receptacle having a cavity forming a storage space for collecting capsules or pods evacuated to the seat into the receptacle to a level of fill. The receptacle is insertable into the seat for collecting capsules or pods and is removable from the seat for emptying the collected capsules or pods. The preparation machine further comprises a mechanism to inhibit jamming of the receptacle at removal from the seat when the level of fill in the receptacle extends above the opening of the housing.

Abstract: An appliance for conditioning a liquid made of or based on milk, in particular for preparing heated liquid or a cold or heated frothed liquid. The appliance includes a tank for receiving the liquid that is to be conditioned; a closed compartment secured to the tank; and an electric device located therein for imparting a conditioning effect to the liquid. The compartment is made water impervious and washable under running water without infiltration thereof into the compartment containing the electric device.

Abstract: The invention pertains generally to a thermal sensor and a controlled heating system, in a beverage preparation machine. In particular, the invention relates to a thermal sensor comprising: connectors; an electrical coupling circuit; a sensing element having at least one measurable electrical quantity varying with the temperature of the sensing element; The sensing element is electrically coupled with the connectors through the electrical coupling circuit so as to allow measuring said electrical quantity at the level of the connectors. The sensor comprises a support having a first surface and a second surface thermally coupled and electrically isolated. The sensing element is thermally coupled with the first surface. The second surface is adapted to be thermally coupled with an area which temperature is to be measured.

Abstract: An electric beverage preparation machine has: an arrangement (5?, 5?, 200, 500, 510, 600, 700, 800) for processing one or more beverage ingredients to dispense a beverage; a control unit (2) connected to the beverage processing arrangement for controlling the processing of one or more beverage ingredients; a beverage user-selector (2b, 2b?), such as a push or touch or toggle button or touch screen, for requesting a beverage, the selector being connected to the control unit; an operative mode in which such machine is immediately ready to process one or more beverage ingredients; and a start-up mode in which such machine is not ready to process one or more beverage ingredients and is brought into the beverage preparation mode from a low electric consumption standby mode or from an electrically switched off state.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage has an outermost housing that includes a top part and downwardly extending sidewalls which cover and shield at least part of a liquid food or beverage module. The downwardly extending sidewalls have a portion that forms, optionally together with a portion of the top part, a grip seizable by a human hand such that the machine can be carried and displaced single handed by seizure of the grip.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage that includes a liquid food or beverage module having a liquid or beverage outlet; a support device that is located under the beverage outlet and that has an arrangement for evacuating liquid; and a collector, such as drip tray, for collecting liquid evacuated by the support device. The support device has a dispensing area on or above which a recipient may be placed for collecting a liquid food or beverage dispensed from the outlet. The support device also includes a non-dispensing area adjacent to the dispensing area, the non-dispensing area being arranged to support recipients upon use and for evacuating liquid to the collector.

Abstract: A modular method of manufacturing a set of beverage production machines with different beverage-related functions. The machines are designed for producing a beverage on the basis of pre-portioned ingredient packages. The method includes providing a plurality of identical core units having control circuitry and a beverage production module for housing an ingredient package and feeding a liquid to the interior of the ingredient package, providing a plurality of different base platforms that differ as to beverage production functions, and manufacturing a set of different beverage production machines by mounting respectively at least one of the core units on a top surface of one of the differing base platforms while also mounting water reservoirs on the base platforms.

Abstract: A machine for preparing liquid food or beverage from a beverage or food ingredient contained in a capsule or pod. The machine includes a liquid food or beverage preparation unit arranged to receive capsules or pods for use and evacuate capsules or pods after use; a housing having an opening leading into a seat to which capsules or pods are evacuated from the preparation unit; and a receptacle having a cavity forming a storage space for collecting capsules or pods evacuated to the seat into the receptacle to a level of fill. The receptacle is insertable into the seat for collecting capsules or pods and is removable from the seat for emptying the collected capsules or pods. The preparation machine further comprises a mechanism to inhibit jamming of the receptacle at removal from the seat when the level of fill in the receptacle extends above the opening of the housing.

Abstract: An appliance for conditioning a liquid made of or based on milk, in particular for preparing heated liquid or a cold or heated frothed liquid. The appliance includes a tank for receiving the liquid that is to be conditioned; a closed compartment secured to the tank; and an electric device located therein for imparting a conditioning effect to the liquid. The compartment is made water impervious and washable under running water without infiltration thereof into the compartment containing the electric device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable electronic device (1), particularly of the wristwatch type, comprising at least first and second analogue display members, a sensor (23, 52) powered to take measurements of a surrounding physical magnitude and a memory zone (26) for storing the measured physical magnitude values. The electronic circuits of the device are capable of operating the analogue display members, in an operating mode called the historic mode, such that at least one of them indicates the change in the stored value as a function of time opposite suitable graduations (8, 9, 33, 42, 51) of the device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable electronic device (1), particularly of the wristwatch type, comprising at least first and second analogue display members, a sensor (23, 52) powered to take measurements of a surrounding physical magnitude and a memory zone (26) for storing the measured physical magnitude values. The electronic circuits of the device are capable of operating the analogue display members, in an operating mode called the historic mode, such that at least one of them indicates the change in the stored value as a function of time opposite suitable graduations (8, 9, 33, 42, 51) of the device.

Abstract: An electric motor, e.g., a linear motor, includes a cooling system, which may permit the dissipation of heat from the primary part of the electric motor in a simple but effective manner. The iron core and the coils may be surrounded by a potting compound that stabilizes one of the coils and the electrical leads of the latter so that channels are formed in the gaps of the iron core. A coolant, e.g., air, flows from a first flow chamber through the channels into a second flow chamber. The direct contact with the iron core, potting compound, and optionally with the regions of the coils that are not filled with compound produces effective cooling action, without having to forego advantages of stability provided by an encapsulated primary part.

Abstract: An electric motor, e.g., a linear motor, includes a cooling system, which may permit the dissipation of heat from the primary part of the electric motor in a simple but effective manner. The iron core and the coils may be surrounded by a potting compound that stabilizes one of the coils and the electrical leads of the latter so that channels are formed in the gaps of the iron core. A coolant, e.g., air, flows from a first flow chamber through the channels into a second flow chamber. The direct contact with the iron core, potting compound, and optionally with the regions of the coils that are not filled with compound produces effective cooling action, without having to forego advantages of stability provided by an encapsulated primary part.