Abstract: A coffee machine is described. The coffee machine includes a water reservoir, a water heater, a water pump, a coffee vessel for receiving ground coffee, and a water delivery system having a water delivery head for delivering heated water to the coffee vessel. A closing and/or tamping system is provided for compacting the ground coffee in the coffee vessel by providing relative movement between the water delivery head and the coffee vessel. The closing and/or tamping system includes a hydraulic actuator, where a water outlet from the water pump is coupled to the hydraulic actuator by a first fluid coupling and the water outlet is coupled to the water delivery head by a second fluid coupling which includes a passive in-line valve. The passive in-line valve opens when a pressure reaches a desired pressure.

Abstract: A coffee machine is described. The coffee machine has an exterior mounting port to which a coffee vessel is removably fitted. A water delivery head is positionally fixed with respect to a main housing of the coffee machine, and a tamping system is used to displace the coffee vessel (or part thereof) relative to the water delivery head, thereby to provide tamping of coffee grounds contained in the coffee vessel.

Abstract: A coffee machine is described. The coffee machine has a removable coffee vessel for fitting to a docking area. A closing piston is driven laterally relative to the coffee vessel into a side opening of the coffee vessel. The closing piston has a water delivery channel leading to its end face.

Abstract: A semi-free rotating crankshaft actuator (80) for an oral healthcare appliance comprises a chamber (82), a spring loadable plunger (85), and a crank mechanism (88). The crank mechanism (88) comprises at least a drive pin (90) rotatably driven about a drive axis (96), and a crank shaft (94) semi-freely rotatable about the drive axis, wherein the crank shaft (94) couples to the spring loadable plunger (85) and is partially driven about the drive axis (96) via (i) the drive pin (90) in a first operational mode, (ii) the spring loadable plunger (85) in a second operational mode, and (iii) the drive pin (90) in a third operational mode that comprises at least completing an incomplete actuation of the plunger (84) from an undesired end position to the desired end position in response to the crank shaft (94) pushing the plunger (84) from the undesired end position to the desired end position.

Abstract: A semi-free rotating crankshaft actuator (80) for an oral healthcare appliance comprises a chamber (82), a spring loadable plunger (85), and a crank mechanism (88). The crank mechanism (88) comprises at least a drive pin (90) rotatably driven about a drive axis (96), and a crank shaft (94) semi-freely rotatable about the drive axis, wherein the crank shaft (94) couples to the spring loadable plunger (85) and is partially driven about the drive axis (96) via (i) the drive pin (90) in a first operational mode, (ii) the spring loadable plunger (85) in a second operational mode, and (iii) the drive pin (90) in a third operational mode that comprises at least completing an incomplete actuation of the plunger (84) from an undesired end position to the desired end position in response to the crank shaft (94) pushing the plunger (84) from the undesired end position to the desired end position.

Abstract: A seal guard (1) for incorporation in a whisk type milk frother (20), including: a hub bushing (2) defining an elongate drive shaft passage (4) that has a central axis (A) which extends in an axial direction (L) pointing from a first end (2a) of the hub bushing to a second end (2b) of the hub bushing; an annular rim (10) that, seen in the axial direction (L), is disposed downstream of the second end (2b) of the hub bushing (2); and a plurality of spokes (8) interconnecting the second end (2b) of the hub bushing (2) and the annular rim (10).

Abstract: A shaving apparatus has plurality of shaving heads, each with a rotatable cutting member (5) associated with and rotatable relative to a shear plate (3). For driving the cutting members (5), a plurality of drive units (9) is provided, each of said units extending at least from drive rim (7) engaged for driving the drive unit to a coupling end (27) coupled to one of the cutting members (5) for transmitting a rotation of the drive unit (9) to the cutting member (5). The drive rims (7) of the drive units (9) are suspended for rotation about axes of rotation (20) that are oriented at angles relative to each other and diverge from each other in a direction from the drive rim (7) to the coupling (27).