Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage using a capsule, including a supporting structure and a brewing unit, which includes a first member and a second member. The brewing unit includes a retaining element which receives a perimetric flange of the capsule and is slidably movable relative to the supporting structure between a receiving position and a disengaging position. The brewing unit includes an ejector which ejects the capsule from the second member and is slidably movable relative to the supporting structure between an extracted position and a retracted position. The first member, which is movable between an operating position and a home position, mechanically operates to cause movements of the retaining element between the receiving position and the disengaging position, and to cause movements of the ejector between the extracted position and the retracted position. The retaining element and the ejector are separate and movable one relative to the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for making beverages, which uses capsules containing a food substance, comprising a forward movement duct for a capsule which extends between an infeed section and an extraction unit, an image acquisition device associated with a first side of the forward movement duct and facing towards an opposite side so as to frame a predetermined portion of an inner surface of the forward movement duct, a pattern having a known shape present in the predetermined portion, wherein an electronic processing unit is programmed to receive a first image acquired by the image acquisition device, and to perform an inspection step, during which the processing unit inspects the first image, a classification step, in which it classifies the first image as corresponding to an image of the transit zone-occupied by a capsule or not, and a control step, in which it controls the operation of the apparatus depending on the result of the classification step.

Abstract: A system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising an outer casing (6) and a recognition element (11) placed inside the outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) associated with the first piercing unit (17) for lighting the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11), wherein the detecting device (13) has an acquiring surface (27) fixed to the first piercing unit (17), and the first piercing unit (17) has a distal portion (35) which more than the acquiring surface (27), and wherein alternatively the distal portion (35) is resting on the recognition element (11) and the acquiring surface (27) is at a distance from the recognition element (11), or the distal portion (35) is partly inserted in the recognition element (11) and the acquiring surface (27) is at a distance

Abstract: A system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising an outer casing (6) and a recognition element (11) placed inside the outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) associated with the first piercing unit (17) for lighting the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11), and supplying means for supplying hot water inside the capsule (4) inserted in the infusion chamber (3), wherein, moreover, the hot water supplying means are configured to supply the hot water inside the capsule (4) at a reading surface (12) of the recognition element (11) towards which the lighting device (26) and the detecting device (13) are directed in order to execute a cleaning step for cleaning the recognition element (11) if the capsule is not recognised.

Abstract: A system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising an outer casing (6) and a recognition element (11) placed inside the outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) associated with the first piercing unit (17) for lighting the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11) and an electronic control unit, wherein, moreover, the recognition element (11) has a reading surface (12) which forms a convexity directed towards the detecting device (13).

Abstract: A system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising a recognition element (11) placed inside an outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) configured to light the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11) and an electronic control unit programmed to execute a comparing step, wherein real data are compared with saved reference data and to manage brewing in a different way if the real data match reference data or do not, compared with if the comparing step indicates that the real data do not match the reference data, wherein the reference data comprise one or more combinations of division of the total intensity received in a main band, into a plurality of separate secondary bands of wavelengths, which are included in the main band.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for making a beverage, which uses a capsule (9) containing a food substance, comprises an optical capsule recognition system. The optical recognition system is intended to recognise an identification element (95) that is positioned inside the capsule (9). The optical recognition system comprises an optical reader (81) that has a reading head (82) associated with a piercer (37) and intended to enter the capsule (9) through a piercing made in said region (93) of the capsule (9). The apparatus (1) further comprises a detection system capable of detecting the reaching of a piercing position, interposed between a home position and an infusion position, wherein the piercer (37) makes a piercing in the capsule. The optical recognition system is operatively connected to the detection system and is configured to perform the recognition based on a reading performed by the optical reader (81) after the piercing position has been reached.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, comprising a water distributing element (3) positioned in an inner chamber of the capsule (1), in a position interposed between a water infeed section and a powdered food substance (27). The water distributing element (3) comprises: a central region (35) intended, in use, to receive the water fed in; a perimetric region (37) which is in contact with a lateral wall (20) of the capsule (1); a partition wall (39) which extends between the central region (35) and the perimetric region (37) and has a first face (31) facing the water infeed section and a second face (32) facing the powdered food substance (27).

Abstract: A coffee machine having a water tank; at least one first pump; at least one first boiler for heating the water; a coffee brewing unit; and circuits to feed hot water and/or steam, with a first outlet for hot water or steam towards an emulsifying device which can be connected to a connection joint of the coffee machine; a second outlet for hot water and/or wash water.

Abstract: The jug (11) comprises jug body (15) and a beverage frothing device (13) arranged on the jug. The beverage frothing device comprises a steam inlet (23, 25, 27), a beverage inlet (35, 35C), and a frothed beverage outlet (14). The frothing device is slidingly arranged in a seat (19) and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position the frothed beverage outlet (14) projects beyond a side wall of the jug body.

Abstract: A beverage-producing machine includes a housing, a beverage producing unit arranged in the housing and a container for at least one beverage ingredient. The container is lockable to the housing and unlockable therefrom. The container includes a bottom aperture configured to dispense the ingredient contained therein and a shutter configured to selectively close and open the aperture. Furthermore, an actuating member is provided in the housing. The actuating member acts upon the shutter for selectively opening and closing the bottom aperture of the container while respectively locking the container to the housing and unlocking the container from the housing.

Abstract: A jug for preparation of beverages includes a body with a first receptacle and a second receptacle for receiving ingredients for the preparation of the beverages. A first stirrer can be arranged in the first receptacle. The jug also includes a cover closing the body of the jug. A first fluid connection is arranged for receiving a beverage from a beverage producing machine and collecting the beverage in the first receptacle. A second fluid connection to a beverage producing machine is further provided, which is in fluid communication with the second receptacle. The first receptacle and the second receptacle have different depths, where one of the first receptacle and the second receptacle has a larger depth than the other.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for instant beverage machines includes a tank, a water extraction pipe contained in the tank, a flow-meter connected to the extraction pipe, a pump, a first vibration-damping valve, a boiler, a second relief and safety valve, a water/steam faucet, a third beverage flow valve, and a recovery tank.

Abstract: A coffee machine having a water tank; at least one first pump; at least one first boiler for heating the water; a coffee brewing unit; and circuits to feed hot water and/or steam, with a first outlet for hot water or steam towards an emulsifying device which can be connected to a connection joint of the coffee machine; a second outlet for hot water and/or wash water.

Abstract: The jug (11) comprises jug body (15) and a beverage frothing device (13) arranged on the jug. The beverage frothing device comprises a steam inlet (23, 25, 27), a beverage inlet (35, 35C), and a frothed beverage outlet (14). The frothing device is slidingly arranged in a seat (19) and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position the frothed beverage outlet (14) projects beyond a side wall of the jug body.

Abstract: A coffee machine having a water tank, at least one first pump, at least one first boiler for heating the water, a coffee brewing unit, and circuits to feed hot water and/or steam with a first outlet for hot water or steam towards an emulsifying device which can be connected to a connection joint of the coffee machine, a second outlet for hot water and/or wash water.

Abstract: A container includes an emulsifying device having a milk suction pipe, a nozzle for supplying hot or emulsified milk with a discharge end outside the container, a steam inlet and an air inlet. The container is thermally insulated so as to better preserve the milk.

Abstract: A connection device connects a refrigerated compartment, where milk or other perishable liquid is contained, to a device for supplying hot or emulsified milk, which can be associated to a coffee machine or the like. The connection device has at least a portion which can be refrigerated by an effect of a coupling to the refrigerated compartment where a milk container is contained.

Abstract: A brewing assembly includes a brewing chamber, a support structure carrying first and second portions of the brewing chamber, and a boiler for heating water. The support structure has a first part which is fastened to the first portion of the brewing chamber, and a second part which is fastened to the second portion of the brewing chamber. The first and second parts of the support structure can be mutually coupled and uncoupled. The first and second portions of the brewing chamber are mutually mobile to adopt an open position, and a closed position when the first and second parts of the support structure are coupled. The boiler is rigidly connected to one of the parts of the support structure and to one of the portions of the brewing chamber.

Abstract: A coffee machine includes a coffee supply module, a support surface for a cup placed beneath the coffee supply module and a steam supply nozzle. The steam supply nozzle can be connected to a milk container which is equipped with an emulsifying module. The emulsifying module has a connection seat in which the steam supply nozzle is inserted when the milk container is connected to the steam supply nozzle. Further, the emulsifying module has a pipe for sucking up milk from the milk container and a nozzle for supplying hot or emulsified milk to the cup. The steam supply nozzle is oriented toward the support surface and the connection seat of the milk container is oriented upwardly when the milk container is placed on the support surface with the steam supply nozzle inserted in the connection seat.