Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage including an infusion chamber for a capsule containing a food substance, an insertion opening for inserting the capsule into the apparatus, a transfer channel for transferring the capsule from the insertion opening to the infusion chamber, an image acquisition device to acquire at least one image of a portion of the capsule. The image acquisition device includes an optical sensor facing an image capture zone in which, in use, said capsule is located or passes. A viewing window, made of transparent material, is interposed between the optical sensor and the image capture zone. A heating element for heating the viewing window is applied to, or incorporated in, the viewing window.

Abstract: A method for recognising a capsule in an apparatus that uses capsules for making beverages, comprising the steps of: acquiring an electronic image which shows a part of the outer surface of the capsule lid and in which an asymmetrical graphical element and a graphical code are present; identifying in the image the asymmetrical graphical element or parts of it, identifying its position in the image and saving it as a reference position; and starting from the reference position and using a predetermined position of the graphical code relative to the asymmetrical element, identifying in the image a position in which the graphical code is located and a graphical code reading orientation; reading the graphical code taking into account the position and orientation previously identified in the image, obtaining a code in electronic format; and considering the capsule recognised when the code in electronic format has been obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage using a capsule (3), (4), wherein, respectively for a first and a second type of beverage selectable, first data and second data are saved which comprise a first and a second supplying start temperature value, a first and a second steady-state supplying temperature value, a first and a second total supplying time and a first and a second activation mode for the pump (16), and wherein an electronic control unit (19) is programmed to cause the supplying respectively of the first and second type of beverage using the first data and the second data for controlling a pump (16) and a boiler (17); wherein the first total supplying time comprises a pre-infusion time, a wait time and an infusion time; and wherein the first activation mode comprises an electricity supply to the pump (16) with an average power that is greater than that in the second activation mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for making beverages using capsules (2) containing a food substance, having at least one image acquisition device (13) suitable for capturing images in electronic format, which show at least one portion of a capsule (2) located in an image capture zone (14) and which operates in the visible spectrum, a lighting device (15) associated with the capture zone (14) for lighting with light in the visible spectrum said portion of a capsule (2), and a detecting device (17) for detecting the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14), the detecting device (17) being operatively associated with the lighting device (15) for causing the switching of the lighting device (15) from a switched off condition to a switched on condition, depending on the detection of the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or of the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14).

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus (1) for making a beverage, comprising an infusion chamber (21) suitable for receiving a capsule containing a food substance for making a beverage, an insertion opening (31) for inserting the capsule into the apparatus (1), a transfer channel (32) for transferring the 5 capsule from the insertion opening (31) to the infusion chamber (21), an image acquisition device (4) which is intended, in use, to acquire at least one image of a portion of the capsule. The image acquisition device (4) includes an optical sensor (42) facing an image capture zone (40) in which, in use, said capsule is located or passes. The apparatus (1) further comprises a 0 viewing window (45), made of transparent material, which is interposed between the optical sensor (42) and the image capture zone (40). The viewing window (45) has a first face (451) facing the optical sensor (42) and a second face (452) facing the image capture zone (40).

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus (1) for making a beverage, comprising an infusion chamber (21) for a capsule containing a food substance, a transfer channel (32) which connects a capsule insertion opening (31) to the infusion chamber (21), an It image acquisition device (4) for acquiring at least one image of a portion of the capsule. The image acquisition device (4) includes an optical sensor (42) facing towards an image capture zone (40) which is a stretch of the transfer channel (32). A viewing window (45), made of transparent material, is interposed between the optical sensor (42) and the image capture zone (40), the viewing window (45) having a first face (451) and a second face (452). The apparatus also comprises a heating device (6, 22), which is positioned in a first region (11) which is at a height lower than a second region (12) in which the viewing window (45) is positioned. The first region (11) and the second region (12) are in communication with each other.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus (1) for making a beverage, in particular a beverage containing milk. The apparatus (1) comprises a machine body, a milk container (2) and a milk frothing device (3) for mixing milk with air and steam. The milk frothing device (3) is removably mountable in a seat (10) in an outer wall (11) of the machine body. The milk container (2) is removably couplable to the milk frothing device (3). The apparatus (1) also comprises a locking member (5) for locking the milk frothing device (3) in the mounted condition.

Abstract: A method for recognising a capsule (1) in an apparatus (2) that uses capsules (1) for making beverages, comprising the operating steps of: acquiring an image in electronic format which shows at least one part of the outer surface (5) of the disk-shaped lid (4) of the capsule (1) and in which both an asymmetrical graphical element (6) and a graphical code (7) are present; identifying in the electronic image the asymmetrical graphical element (6) or one or more parts of it, identifying its position in the image and saving that position as a reference position; and starting from the reference position and using a known predetermined position of the graphical code (7) relative to the asymmetrical graphical element (6), identifying in the electronic image both a position in which the graphical code (7) is located and a graphical code (7) reading orientation; reading the graphical code (7) taking into account the position and the orientation previously identified in the electronic image, obtaining a code in electro

Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage using a capsule (3), (4), wherein, respectively for a first and a second type of beverage selectable, first data and second data are saved which comprise a first and a second supplying start temperature value, a first and a second steady-state supplying temperature value, a first and a second total supplying time and a first and a second activation mode for the pump (16), and wherein an electronic control unit (19) is programmed to cause the supplying respectively of the first and second type of beverage using the first data and the second data for controlling a pump (16) and a boiler (17); wherein the first total supplying time comprises a pre-infusion time, a wait time and an infusion time; and wherein the first activation mode comprises an electricity supply to the pump (16) with an average power that is greater than that in the second activation mode.

Abstract: An image acquisition device (4) for a capsule, usable in an apparatus (1) for making a beverage that uses the capsule. The device (4) comprises an optical sensor (42) facing an image capture zone (40) in which said capsule is located or passes, at least one light emitting element (44) for lighting the image capture zone (40), a box-shaped casing (5) surrounding an inner chamber (50) in which the optical sensor (42) is housed. The box-shaped casing (5) comprises a front wall (51), that is made of transparent material and is interposed between the optical sensor (42) and the image capture zone (40), and lateral walls (52, 53, 54, 55) that are connected to the front wall (51) and laterally delimit the inner chamber (50).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus (1) for making a beverage, in particular a beverage containing milk. The apparatus (1) comprises a machine body, a milk container (2) and a milk frothing device (3) for mixing milk with air and steam. The milk frothing device (3) is removably mountable in a seat (10) in an outer wall (11) of the machine body. The milk container (2) is removably couplable to the milk frothing device (3). The apparatus (1) also comprises a locking member (5) for locking the milk frothing device (3) in the mounted condition.