Abstract: Machine for preparing a drink, which comprises a body (20) and a head (21) fitted with a liquid-injection assembly (6), which comprises a support (7) to accommodate a portion of food ingredients and comprising a passage (10) through which the said drink can flow, the said head (21) being mounted on the said body (20) such that it can move in order to move from a retracted stowage position, in which the space occupied by the machine is minimal and the passage (10) is covered, into a deployed service position in which the space occupied by the machine is greater than the space occupied in the retracted position. In the retracted position, a housing (33) is provided in the head to accommodate the support (7) and, in the deployed position, the passage (10) is uncovered in order to allow the drink to flow over an empty space intended for the insertion of a container.

Abstract: Machine for preparing a drink, which comprises a casing (1) defining an internal volume in which internal means for circulating a liquid intended for preparing said drink are housed, said means comprising: -means (2) for piping the liquid inside said casing; and -a pump (3) for delivering the liquid into said liquid-piping means (2). According to the invention, the machine further includes intake means (11, 90, 93) for bringing the liquid from outside said casing (1) into the latter, which means are deployable at least partly on the casing (1) from a position in which they occupy a small space to a position in which they occupy a larger space, and are connected to said liquid circulation means.

Abstract: Injection assembly (6) for the preparation of a drink from consumable ingredients and a liquid, comprising a frame (50) in which the following are mounted: —an injection chamber (100), intended to accommodate a portion of ingredients, having a lower part (7) and an upper part (52, 101), at least one of said lower (7) and upper (52, 101) parts being mounted so as to move; and—a cam (51) and a cam follower (52) which are mounted so as to move rotationally and translationally respectively, these cooperating via inclined surfaces (61, 62) in order to close said injection chamber (100). According to the invention, the upper part (52, 101) is mounted so as to move translationally inside said frame (50) and in that said cam (51) and said cam follower (52) are movably joined to said upper part (101) so as to be able to open and close said injection chamber (100).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a system for producing a beverage from portioned ingredients provided within a capsule or pod, the system comprising a base station (1) comprising a (e.g. removable) water reservoir of large capacity (12), an autonomous beverage preparation module (2) comprising an extraction head (4) and being removably connectable to the base station (1) from an autonomous-use mode to docked-use mode, wherein the autonomous module (2) comprises a water inlet connection means (27, 27a), wherein the autonomous module (2) and the base station (1) respectively comprise matching positioning means (5a, 5b) which engage when the beverage preparation module (2) is connected to the base station (1) in the docked position, and wherein it comprises alternative water supply means (11, 29, 36) and water outlet connection means (28, 32, 36a) adapted for connecting to the water inlet connection means (27) of the module (2) for supplying water to the module when the module is in the autonomous-use mode.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of obtaining a frothy drink from a cartridge, the cartridge being made up of at least one chamber containing at least a preparation for a drink. Where the cartridge is injected with a predetermined volume of fluid, a first part of which essentially consists of air which is compressed in the cartridge to a pressure lower than the pressure at which the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the cartridge and a second part of which consists of water, or possibly of a mixture of air and water, which is injected after the first part into the cartridge so as to make it possible to obtain the drink by causing the internal pressure to increase until the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the cartridge thus allowing the drink to be discharged and froth to be formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of wetting and/or dissolving a substance contained in a capsule for producing a beverage consisting, by means of a piercing and injection element, in piercing the capsule and injecting a liquid under pressure into the capsule to wet and/or dissolve the substance; the piercing and injection element being arranged so as to inject the liquid into the capsule in the form of at least one thin layer extending in a continuous, divergent and multidirectional manner, covering a spray surface in an arc of a circle inside the capsule. The invention also relates to a device comprising a flow channel and a valve designed to close off the channel in a first position, called the rest position, and to open under the effect of the pressure from the liquid against an elastic element so as to free a passage as a function of the pressure and thus create the thin layer of liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of wetting and/or dissolving a substance contained in a capsule for producing a beverage consisting, by means of a piercing and injection element, in piercing the capsule and injecting a liquid under pressure into the capsule to wet and/or dissolve the substance; the piercing and injection element being arranged so as to inject the liquid into the capsule in the form of at least one thin layer extending in a continuous, divergent and multidirectional manner, covering a spray surface in an arc of a circle inside the capsule. The invention also relates to a device comprising a flow channel and a valve designed to close off the channel in a first position, called the rest position, and to open under the effect of the pressure from the liquid against an elastic element so as to free a passage as a function of the pressure and thus create the thin layer of liquid.

Abstract: A drink preparing machine that includes a tank, a water supply system having at least a section for heated water and a section for unheated water, a pump for conveying water from the tank through the supply system as far as a module for preparing the drink, and a valve device arranged so as to control the selective opening and closing of the supply system sections. The valve device is a peristaltic system that includes a compression member for compressing a tube of each supply system section and acting under the effect of an elastic return member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capsule containing ingredients for producing a beverage, wherein the ingredients are housed in a compartment and an internal perforation mechanism is provided for opening the lower face of the compartment by using pressure inside the compartment to cause the lower face to act against the perforation member to allow the beverage to exit the capsule through a beverage outlet. The capsule is provided with a valve arranged for selectively blocking the flow path of the beverage to the beverage outlet of the capsule to prevent dripping of the beverage from the compartment after dispensing.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a device (50) for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (24) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (24) provided to the device (50). Said liquid is provided by a pump of the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (2.2) for inserting a capsule (24) into a brewing chamber (25) of the device. The brewing chamber (25) is defined by an upper and a lower enclosing member (10a, 10b), a closing mechanism (1) to selectively enclose said capsule by a relative displacement of said enclosing members.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule provided to the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule (24) into a receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule by a relative movement of at least two enclosing members (10, 25b), and at least one injection member (1) comprising a support member (2) and at least one injection element (3), for receiving a liquid, attached to said support member (2) which is arranged to inject liquid into a capsule (24) provided to the device, wherein the injection member (1) is releasably mounted on a support (10) at the injection side of said receiving chamber (25) by means of a releasable connection mechanism (4a, 4b, 12).

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (24) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (24), wherein said liquid is provided by a pump (70) of the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule-holder (30) providing the capsule (24) to a capsule-holder receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule (24) in the capsule-holder receiving chamber (25), at least one injection member (11) to supply a liquid received from the pump (70) to the inside of the capsule (24), a control unit (80) for controlling at least the pump (70) of the device, and decoding means (1) connected to the control unit (80) and designed to read information from the capsule-holder (30).

Abstract: Method of obtaining a frothy drink from a cartridge, the said cartridge being made up of at least one chamber containing at least a preparation for a drink. The method comprises injecting into the said cartridge a predetermined volume of fluid, a first part of which essentially consists of air which is compressed in the cartridge to a pressure lower than the pressure at which the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the said cartridge and a second part of which consists of water, or possibly of a mixture of air and water, which is injected after the first part into the cartridge so as to make it possible to obtain the drink by causing the internal pressure to increase until the cartridge opens or the drink flows freely through the cartridge thus allowing the drink to be discharged and froth to be formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for extracting a cap (16) comprising a first part (2), a second part (3) which is movable with respect to the second part (2) which is provided with a space for the cap and defines the cap extracting position in a closed position thereof, an introduction and positioning part comprising the cap guiding elements (6, 7) which are arranged in such a way that it is possible to insert the cap by gravity force and position it in an intermediate position and a beverage pouring system (19) in which the second movable part (3) displaces the cap from the intermediate position to the extraction position.

Abstract: Device for preparing a liquid beverage from a cartridge, comprising a supply unit (2) for supplying injection fluid to the cartridge (10), a cartridge holder (6) configured to accept and support a cartridge; the said cartridge holder being detachable from the device and complementary insertion means (7) are configured to allow the cartridge holder to be inserted from its detached position into the supply unit (2). The injection means (5) are provided and form part of the supply unit. The injection means are able to move into engagement. Sealing means (16) are also provided in association with the injection means in ‘order to provide sealing locally between the said injection means and the cartridge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for extracting a cap (16) comprising a first part (2), a second part (3) which is movable with respect to the second part (2) which is provided with a space for the cap and defines the cap extracting position in a closed position thereof, an introduction and positioning part comprising the cap guiding elements (6, 7) which are arranged in such a way that it is possible to insert the cap by gravity force and position it in an intermediate position and a beverage pouring system (19) in which the second movable part (3) displaces the cap from the intermediate position to the extraction position.

Abstract: A system and device for preparing a liquid beverage from a cartridge. The device includes a supply unit for supplying an injection fluid into the cartridge, a cartridge holder configured to accept and support the cartridge with the cartridge holder being detachable from the device. A complementary insertion mechanism of the device is configured to receive the cartridge holder in the device. The cartridge is positioned in the supply unit in an injection position with its injection surface substantially in an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane and the injection mechanism is offset from the highest edge of the cartridge. The cartridge holder preferably comprises a linear wedge-shaped insertion member having a bearing surface inclined along an angle. The method of operation of the system and device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for selectively delivering different beverages having different foam levels by injection of a fluid under pressure into a capsule that contains a beverage-forming substance. The capsules include a chamber containing the substance and a beverage dispensing structure adapted to retain a certain extraction pressure in the chamber before allowing the beverage to flow out of the capsule. The system is characterized in that first and second capsules are provided for selective use in the system, with the first capsule having a first beverage dispensing structure configured and positioned therein to retain a first extraction pressure in the capsule, prior to the complete delivery of the beverage, and the second capsule having a second beverage dispensing structure configured and positioned therein to retain a second extraction pressure in the capsule, prior to the complete delivery of the beverage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for extracting a cap (16) comprising a first part (2), a second part (3) which is movable with respect to the second part (2) which is provided with a space for the cap and defines the cap extracting position in a closed position thereof, an introduction and positioning part comprising the cap guiding elements (6, 7) which are arranged in such a way that it is possible to insert the cap by gravity force and position it in an intermediate position and a beverage pouring system (19) in which the second movable part (3) displaces the cap from the intermediate position to the extraction position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preparing a beverage by injection of water through a capsule containing a substance to be dissolved and/or to be extracted. The device comprises at least one water-injection system for introducing water inside the capsule. The injection system can be switched in order for a selection to be made between at least two different modes of wetting the substance so as to adapt wetting in accordance with the type of capsule and/or with the nature of the substance contained in the capsule. The invention aims to propose a device suitable for the preparation of a wider range of beverages, foaming or non-foaming, from substances to be extracted and/or soluble substances.