Abstract: A device for preparing a heated liquid for use with a beverage-making appliance includes a liquid transport channel in communication with a liquid reservoir which discharges into a first chamber. The first chamber includes a steam inlet which is connectable to a steam generator. A second chamber of the device is connected to the first chamber via a restriction and has a liquid outlet. The device is in the form of a cartridge n which the liquid reservoir, the liquid transport channel, the first chamber, the steam inlet, the restriction, the second chamber, and the liquid outlet are provided. All components of the device are integrated into one cartridge, so the cartridge can be discarded after use.

Abstract: A beverage maker for brewing a beverage from water and a quantity of particle material includes a water supply structure, a brewing chamber downstream of the water supply structure, and a dispensing channel downstream of the brewing chamber. A bounding member is adjustable for adjusting the operational size of the brewing chamber, and an adjustment structure is provided for adjusting said bounding member. The adjustment structure is adjustable in response to the quantity of particles present in said brewing chamber.

Abstract: A beverage maker has a valve structure (13; 43; 153) adapted block the return of water from a boiler (5) to its water reservoir (2) in response to a water pressure from the boiler exceeding a shut-off pressure value. The valve structure (7; 47; 107) further includes a discharge outlet (20; 120) connected for water outflow to the brewing unit (8) and is adapted to open a passage from that inlet (9; 109) to the discharge outlet (20; 120) in response to a water pressure at the inlet (9; 109) exceeding a discharge pressure value below the pumping pressure. The valve structure (7; 47; 107) is further adapted to block the return of water from the boiler (5) to the water reservoir (2) also in response to a water pressure from the boiler below a relief pressure value above atmospheric pressure and below the shut-off pressure value. The pressure in the boiler during heating towards boiling is thus kept above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A beverage maker for brewing a beverage from water and a quantity of particle material includes a water supply structure (7, 9, 11, 45), a brewing chamber (13) downstream of the water supply structure (7, 9, 11, 45), and a dispensing channel (19; 37) downstream of the brewing chamber (13). A bounding member (14) is adjustable for adjusting the operational size of the brewing chamber (13), and an adjustment structure (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32) is provided for adjusting said bounding member (14). The adjustment structure (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32) is adjustable in response to the quantity of particles present in said brewing chamber (13).

Abstract: A beverage maker has a valve structure (13; 43; 153) adapted block the return of water from a boiler (5) to its water reservoir (2) in response to a water pressure from the boiler exceeding a shut-off pressure value. The valve structure (7; 47; 107) further includes a discharge outlet (20; 120) connected for water outflow to the brewing unit (8) and is adapted to open a passage from that inlet (9; 109) to the discharge outlet (20; 120) in response to a water pressure at the inlet (9; 109) exceeding a discharge pressure value below the pumping pressure. The valve structure (7; 47; 107) is further adapted to block the return of water from the boiler (5) to the water reservoir (2) also in response to a water pressure from the boiler below a relief pressure value above atmospheric pressure and below the shut-off pressure value. The pressure in the boiler during heating towards boiling is thus kept above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for toasting of bread etc. comprising a housing (2) with a slot (3) which issues into a toasting space (4) into which products to be toasted can be introduced, while heater elements (5) are arranged on both sides of this space (4) which each cooperate with a reflector (7) for reflecting radiation in the direction of the toasting space (4), and the housing (2) is made at least partly of a transparent material. In order to obtain an evenly distributed browning and a good view of the products in the toasting space (4), the reflectors (7) cover the whole area of the toasting space (4) and are made of a transparent material.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided which includes a housing (1) having a chamber (3) in which a beverage container (5) can be placed, the container having at least one deformable wall (16) and an outlet (8) to which a beverage delivery line (7, 34) and a tapping device (6) can be connected, a locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) for closing a pressure space (17) in an airtight manner, which pressure space is situated between an outer wall (16) of the beverage container (5) and an inner wall (15) of the chamber (3), and a pressurizing device (16) for pressurizing the pressure space (17) to force beverage out of the container via the outlet. To improve the sealing and locking and to make the apparatus convenient to operate for the user the locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) is arranged between the outer wall (16) of the beverage container and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for toasting bread, includes a housing (2) with a slot (3) which leads into a toasting space (4). Heater elements (5) are arranged on both sides of this space which each cooperate with a reflector (7) for reflecting radiation in the direction of the toasting space. Grille elements (8) are located to center the bread in the toasting space. A bread support element (9) is provided for moving the bread up or down. The grille elements (8) and the support element (9) are moveable in a coordinated way. The grille elements (8) and/or the heater elements (5) are arranged on two pairs of arms (6) which are hinged (14) to a base part (1), while the support element (9) cooperates with a lever (19) which is also hinged (18) to the base part (1), the arms (6) and the lever (19) cooperating with openings (17) in a slide (10) which is movable in the base part (1).

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided which includes a housing (1) having a chamber (3) in which a beverage container (5) can be placed, the container having at least one deformable wall (16) and an outlet (8) to which a beverage delivery line (7, 34) and a tapping device (6) can be connected, a locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) for closing a pressure space (17) in an airtight manner, which pressure space is situated between an outer wall (16) of the beverage container (5) and an inner wall (15) of the chamber (3), and a pressurizing device (16) for pressurizing the pressure space (17) to force beverage out of the container via the outlet. To improve the sealing and locking and to make the apparatus convenient to operate for the user the locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) is arranged between the outer wall (16) of the beverage container and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for toasting of bread etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for toasting of bread etc. comprising a housing (2) with a slot (3) which issues into a toasting space (4) into which products to be toasted can be introduced, while heater elements (5) are arranged on both sides of this space (4) which each cooperate with a reflector (7) for reflecting radiation in the direction of the toasting space (4), and the housing (2) is made at least partly of a transparent material. In order to obtain an evenly distributed browning and a good view of the products in the toasting space (4), the reflectors (7) cover the whole area of the toasting space (4) and are made of a transparent material.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided which includes a housing (1) having a chamber (3) in which a beverage container (5) can be placed, the container having at least one deformable wall (16) and an outlet (8) to which a beverage delivery line (7, 34) and a tapping device (6) can be connected, a locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) for closing a pressure space (17) in an airtight manner, which pressure space is situated between an outer wall (16) of the beverage container (5) and an inner wall (15) of the chamber (3), and a pressurizing device (16) for pressurizing the pressure space (17) to force beverage out of the container via the outlet. To improve the sealing and locking and to make the apparatus convenient to operate for the user the locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) is arranged between the outer wall (16) of the beverage container and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A coffee-making apparatus for making normal coffee has a steam boiler (7) for generating steam for making cappuccino. The coffee-making apparatus has only one water reservoir (1) for making the coffee and for filling the steam boiler. The boiler has a venting valve (12) for automatically venting the boiler when the boiler is filled with cold water from the water reservoir. The influx of cold water into the boiler causes a sensor (12) to cool down, thereby opening a vent opening. With this apparatus it is possible to make coffee and steam for a second time, directly after making a cup of coffee and steam for the first time.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided which includes a housing (1) having a chamber (3) in which a beverage container (5) can be placed, the container having at least one deformable wall (16) and an outlet (8) to which a beverage delivery line (7, 34) and a tapping device (6) can be connected, a locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) for closing a pressure space (17) in an airtight manner, which pressure space is situated between an outer wall (16) of the beverage container (5) and an inner wall (15) of the chamber (3), and a pressurizing device (16) for pressurizing the pressure space (17) to force beverage out of the container via the outlet. To improve the sealing and locking and to make the apparatus convenient to operate for the user the locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) is arranged between the outer wall (16) of the beverage container and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A coffee maker for brewing coffee comprises a water reservoir, a heating chamber and a pump which pumps water from the reservoir through the heating chamber to a filter device. The heating chamber is provided with a temperature sensor which causes regulation of the power supply to the heating element (16) and also provides temperature information to a control device. The control device controls the operation of the pump so that the brewing process is automated, and the pump is operated only when the water at the outlet of the heating device (10) is at a suitable temperature. The heating device (10) may be a low-mass instantaneous flow heater.

Abstract: A water cleaning device (1) is provided which has a housing (10) arranged to be supported by a surface, for example stood upon a work surface (50). The housing (10) defines a receptacle (2) for water (100) to be cleaned. A water filtration unit (20) is mounted to the housing (10) and has an outlet (21) for filtered water (101). An electrically operated pump (30) and control means (16,17,25,26,27,28,40) for controlling the pump (30) are provided within the housing (1) for pumping water through the filtration unit (20) to provide cleaned filtered water (101) at the outlet (21). The filtration unit (20) carries a collar (29) which, when the filtration unit (20) is removed from its mounting support (12), is fixed in position relative to the filtration unit (20) so that the filtration unit (20) cannot be mounted to the mounting support (12) again after the filtration unit (20) has once been removed from the housing.

Abstract: An electric steam iron has two heating elements (21, 41), each of high wattage. The elements heat the soleplate (20) and a water tank of a steam generator (40). The elements are connected in such a way that they cannot be switched on simultaneously. The quantity of steam which is delivered by the iron during ironing is regulated by an electronic circuit (FIG. 2) which controls the heating of the steam generator. The heating takes place in a manner in which the steam delivery varies depending on the steam requirements during an ironing cycle (FIGS. 4a-4e). The steam generator can be designed as a pressure tank in which a buffer stock of steam is formed during an interruption in ironing, so that at the beginning of an ironing cycle a large quantity of steam can be delivered and at the same time the soleplate can be heated up.