Patents by Inventor Stefan Schai

Stefan Schai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11178996
    Abstract: A capsule processing machine (1) for preparing a beverage from a capsule (5) having a body (50) containing an ingredient. The machine (1) has a holder (10) with a cavity (11) having an upwardly oriented mouth (12) and a cover (20) cooperating with the holder (10). The cover (20) and the holder (10) are relatively movable along a movement path (14) from: an open position for inserting the capsule (5) inbetween the holder (10) and cover (20) into the cavity (11) and/or for removing the capsule (5) therefrom; to a closed position for extracting the capsule (5) in the cavity (11). The machine (1) includes a capsule transfer device (30) having a capsule guide (31) for guiding the capsule (5) from the holder (10) to a used-capsule evacuation area (40). The capsule guide (31) extends along an evacuation direction (31?) and is configured to seize the capsule (5) and hold the capsule (5) above the holder (10) and to guide the capsule (5) towards the evacuation area (40) along the evacuation direction (31?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Hess, Stefan Schai, Alain Teklits
  • Publication number: 20200323385
    Abstract: A capsule processing machine (1) for preparing a beverage from a capsule (5) having a body (50) containing an ingredient. The machine (1) has a holder (10) with a cavity (11) having an upwardly oriented mouth (12) and a cover (20) cooperating with the holder (10). The cover (20) and the holder (10) are relatively movable along a movement path (14) from: an open position for inserting the capsule (5) inbetween the holder (10) and cover (20) into the cavity (11) and/or for removing the capsule (5) therefrom; to a closed position for extracting the capsule (5) in the cavity (11). The machine (1) includes a capsule transfer device (30) having a capsule guide (31) for guiding the capsule (5) from the holder (10) to a used-capsule evacuation area (40). The capsule guide (31) extends along an evacuation direction (31?) and is configured to seize the capsule (5) and hold the capsule (5) above the holder (10) and to guide the capsule (5) towards the evacuation area (40) along the evacuation direction (31?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Michel HESS, Stefan SCHAI, Alain TEKLITS
  • Patent number: 10010210
    Abstract: A receptacle holding unit includes a first part and a second part cooperating with the first part; a cavity for receiving a receptacle containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage by a device, the cavity being delimited by at least one of the first and second parts; and a driving device for relatively moving the second part towards the first part into a closed position and relatively apart from the first part into an open position. The driving device includes an actuator and a transmission having a helicoidal ramp arrangement cooperating with a connector member for converting a translational movement into a rotational movement or vice versa. When the actuator actuates the transmission, the first and second parts are driven together or apart. The ramp arrangement includes two ramps spaced apart and generally parallel between which the connector member relatively moves along the ramp arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Bachmann, Stefan Schai, Oliver Stephan
  • Patent number: 9955813
    Abstract: A receptacle holding unit for a beverage preparation device includes a first part and a second part cooperating with the first part; a cavity for receiving a receptacle containing an ingredient; and a driving device for relatively moving the second part towards the first part into a closed position for securing such receptacle in the cavity and relatively apart from the first part into an open position for inserting of the receptacle into the cavity. The driving device has an actuator and a transmission that has a helicoidal ramp arrangement cooperating with a connector member for converting a translational movement into a rotational movement or vice versa. When the actuator actuates the transmission, the first and second parts are driven together or apart by the ramp arrangement cooperating with the connector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Bachmann, Stefan Schai, Oliver Stephan
  • Publication number: 20150327711
    Abstract: A receptacle holding unit (1) for a device for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a receptacle comprises: a first part (10) and a second FIG. 3a part (20) cooperating with the first part; a cavity (11?) for receiving the receptacle, the cavity being delimited by at least one of the first and second parts; a driving device (30) for relatively moving the second part towards the first part into a closed position and relatively apart from the first part into an open position. The driving device comprising an actuator (31) and a transmission (22, 32; 22?, 32?) that has a helicoidal ramp arrangement (32,32?) cooperating with a connector member (22,22?) for converting a translational movement into a rotational movement or vice versa. The helicoidal ramp arrangement is mounted to the first part and the connector member is mounted to the second part so that, when the actuator actuates the transmission, the first and second parts are driven together or apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Bachmann, Stefan Schai, Oliver Stephan
  • Publication number: 20150327710
    Abstract: A receptacle holding unit (1) for a device for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a receptacle comprises: a first part (10) and a second part (20) cooperating with the first part; a cavity (11?) for receiving such receptacle, the cavity being delimited by at least one of the first and second parts; and a driving device (30) for relatively moving the second part towards the first part into a closed position for securing such receptacle in the cavity and relatively apart from the first part into an open position for inserting of the receptacle into the cavity. The driving device has an actuator (31) and a transmission (22, 32; 22?, 32?) that has a helicoidal ramp arrangement (32,32?) cooperating with a connector member (22,22?) for converting a translational movement into a rotational movement or vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Bachmann, Stefan Schai, Oliver Stephan