A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.

A system for preparing a quantity of beverage suitable for consumption, including an apparatus including a first brew chamber part and a second brew chamber part forming a brew chamber for selectively holding one of a first and second exchangeable capsules, the second exchangeable capsule having a larger diameter than the first exchangeable capsule, wherein the second brew chamber part includes a central portion and a peripheral portion, wherein the peripheral portion includes a second sealing member arranged for providing a fluid sealing engagement between the peripheral portion and the first brew chamber part when forming the brew chamber for holding the second exchangeable capsule.

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (2) includes: a beverage outlet (3) that is located above a dispensing area (4); a machine body or frame (5) having a first connecting part (51) and bearing the beverage outlet (3); and a recipient support (6) having a second connecting part (61) and a support member (62) held by the second connecting part (61). The second connecting part (61) is disconnectably connectable to the first connecting part (51) so that the support member (62) extends into the dispensing area (4) to support a beverage user-recipient (7) under the beverage outlet (3). The first connecting part (51) and the second connecting part (61) have a connection member and a connection receiver arrangement for disconnectably connecting the parts (51,61) such that: the first connecting part forms a connection member and the second connecting part forms a connection receiver; and/or the first connecting part (51) forms a connection receiver and the second connecting part (61) forms a connection member. The connection member is inserted in the connection receiver when the first and second connecting parts (51,61) are connected. The connection member is removed from the connection receiver along a removal direction (51) when the first and second connecting parts (51,61) are disconnected. The removal direction (51′) has an upwardly directed vertical component (51″) when such machine (1) is in position to dispense the beverage (2).

The present invention concerns a food and beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a machine body (2), a fluid system for preparing and dispensing a beverage, a beverage dispensing opening, and a cup tray (6) attached to the machine body in at least two possible height positions. According to the invention, the machine comprises a pit (7) with a cylindrical opening located below a dispensing opening, said cylindrical opening comprising at least one guiding pin (8), and the cup tray comprises a horizontal plate (10) and a vertical cylinder (11), the cylinder having a vertical cam groove (12) adapted to receive said guiding pin in a slidable manner for displacing the cup tray in height, and superimposed horizontal groove branches (13) extending from the vertical groove, advantageously through lower and upper curved camways defining a cusp-shaped cam path, for fixing the cup tray at predetermined height positions.

A beverage dispensing apparatus having a height-adjustable support member for supporting a beverage vessel at a plurality of different support positions. The beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispensing outlet for dispensing a beverage and a movable support member having a top surface for supporting a beverage vessel below the beverage dispensing outlet. The movable support member may include an inner telescoping element and an outer telescoping element. An actuation assembly may be operably coupled to the movable support member to move the movable support member to modify a distance between the top surface of the movable support member and the beverage dispensing outlet. Activation of the actuation assembly may cause both the inner and outer telescoping elements to move simultaneously either towards or away from the beverage dispensing outlet.

The coffee machine (1) comprises a resting surface (6) for cups (7, 7′) and a hydraulic circuit having in cascade a pump, a boiler, an infusion head (3) and a filter holder cup (4) removably engaged with the infusion head (3), also being provided a mobile support structure (8) for supporting the assembly formed by the infusion head (3) and the filter holder cup (4), and a movement means (17) for moving the support structure (8) between a plurality of positions to which different distances of the filter holder cup (4) from the resting surface (6) correspond.

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (84) from a capsule (2) has: an external housing (10, 30, 30, 40, 50, 60) having an external front face (10), two external spaced-apart lateral side faces (30,30) that extend rearwards behind the external front face (10) and that face each other; a beverage outlet (11) located on the external front face (10) and above a front area (20) for placing a user-receptacle (3,4) for collecting beverage (84) from the outlet (11); and a capsule handling device (70) that has a first part (71) and a second part (72) that are relatively movable between a capsule transfer position and a capsule extraction position. At least one part (72) of the first and second parts (71,72) is arranged to translate towards and away from at least one of the two external lateral side faces (30,30) so that the first and second parts (71,72) relatively move between the transfer and the extraction positions.

A beverage preparation device (1), in particular a coffee machine, with a housing (2), an outlet (5) for discharging a beverage into a beverage container and a support element (6) for supporting the beverage container, said support element being arranged in a detachable manner in the insert openings (9, 10) which are arranged on the front side of the housing (4) and which are at variable distances to the outlet (5). The insertion openings (9, 10) are associated with closure means (12) for closing the insertion openings (9, 10) when the support device (6) is not inserted.

A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.

A brewing apparatus may include a chassis dimensioned to fit within a compartment of an aircraft galley. The chassis may include a front chassis section and one or more guide rails configured to engage one or more tracks in the aircraft galley compartment. The front chassis section may include a brew head assembly with one or more server restraints or one or more brew cup restraints and a brew cup panel assembly. The brew cup panel assembly may include a hinge assembly configured to engage the brew head assembly and a brew cup panel. The brew cup panel may be coupled to the hinge assembly and may be configured to adjust the brew head assembly in a selected direction via actuation of the hinge assembly.