This disclosure relates to a delivery unit (1) for an apparatus for making a beverage, in particular for making an espresso coffee. The delivery unit (1) comprises a cup-shaped body (2) delimiting an inner chamber (20), the cup-shaped body (2) comprising a lateral wall (21) and a bottom wall (23). The delivery unit (1) also comprises an infeed spout (3) for introducing beverage into the inner chamber (20) and an outfeed opening (45) through which the beverage can come out of the inner chamber (20), the outfeed opening (45) being positioned in a central portion of the bottom wall (23). In the inner chamber (20) the delivery unit (1) comprises a partition wall (5) which surrounds the outfeed opening (45) and divides the inner chamber (20) into a peripheral region (26) and a central region (28) in which the outfeed opening (45) is located. The partition wall (5) comprises a plurality of passage openings (55) for allowing the beverage to pass from the peripheral region (26) to the central region (28). The infeed spout (3) is designed to introduce the beverage into the peripheral region (26) of the inner chamber (20) with a direction substantially tangential to the lateral wall (21).

A system (11) includes: (a) a tray (44), for placing thereon a sample including a first flowable-matter substrate (FMS) (69), (b) a printing assembly (22), to print image, made from edible substance, on a second FMS layer (68) formed on first FMS (69), (c) an axis mechanism (10), to mechanically support tray (44) and control a distance (41) between the sample and printing assembly (22) by moving tray (44) with the sample along an axis, (d) a support member (55, 56), coupled to the printing assembly (22) to mechanically support the printing assembly (22), and (e) vibration dampers (37, 45, 111), placed between (i) the printing assembly (22) and (11) at least one of the axis mechanism (10), tray (44) and the sample, and configured to suppress vibrations between (i) at least one of the printing assembly (22), the axis mechanism (10) and the tray (44), and (ii) the sample.

Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

Disclosed are an emulsifying device and a beverage machine. The emulsifying device is connected to a steam source to generate target liquid. The emulsifying device includes a main body, a delivering assembly, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The delivering assembly includes a first connector, and the first connector is detachably connected to the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor includes a detection probe, and the detection probe is located on at least portion of a liquid flow path for delivering source liquid from a container to a mixing chamber defined by the main body. The detection probe is detachably connected through the first connector, such that disassembly is convenient. The detection probe can be exposed when the first connector is detached, so that cleaning the detection probe is very easy, and milk temperature can be detected in real time.

Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a container manipulation assembly having a support assembly and an elevator. The support assembly can be configured to receive a container. The elevator can be connected with the support assembly and can be configured to translate and/or rotate the support assembly. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes a wand manipulation assembly having a wand unit and a mechanical linkage. The linkage can be configured to move the wand unit into and out of engagement with the container on the support assembly. The wand unit can provide a flow of fluid, such as steam, to liquid in the container to heat and/or froth the liquid.

A merchandise security system for an electronic item of merchandise is provided. In one example, the merchandise security system includes a continuous alarming power cord comprising at least one electrical conductor. The alarming power cord has a first end adapted to be electrically connected to the electronic item of merchandise and a second end. The merchandise security system also includes a reel for receiving the second end of the alarming power cord and adapted for storing at least a portion of the alarming power cord thereon. In addition, the merchandise security system includes monitoring circuitry in electrical communication with the alarming power cord and configured to detect an interruption in an electrical signal provided to the alarming power cord.

The coffee dispenser disclosed herein may serve a single serving of coffee. The coffee dispenser may have a mixing chamber that combines one or more liquid concentrates and heated water, and dispenses a single serving of coffee. The coffee dispenser may have a forth control to select the forth level of the serving of coffee dispensed. The liquid concentrate may be a coffee extract.

An appliance to foam a liquid for consumption, the appliance comprising: a container mounting portion to mount thereto a container to contain said liquid; an agitation system configured to foam said liquid, said system comprising a stator arranged external a mounted container, said stator configured to generate a rotating magnetic field for transmission of torque to rotate a rotary agitator arranged in a mounted container, wherein said stator comprises at a circuit board with electrically conductive portions formed thereon.

Disposable foaming device (100) for foaming a fluid (1) comprising a container compartment (20) and a foaming compartment (10), the container compartment (20) being pressurized by primary incoming air (14) so that the fluid (1) is driven into the foaming compartment (20), wherein the foaming compartment (20) is provided with secondary incoming air (15) to be mixed with the fluid (1) coming from the container compartment (20), the foaming compartment (10) being designed in such a way that the mixture of air and fluid (1) is moved under certain level of shear stress calculated so that it allows the mixture of air and fluid (1) to be emulsified in the foaming compartment (10). Typically, the foaming compartment (20) comprises an inner cylinder (11) and an outer cylinder (12), the inner cylinder (11) and the outer cylinder (12) being arranged concentrically so that a gap (13) is formed between them, the inner cylinder (11) being rotatable with respect to the outer cylinder (12), such that the mixture of fluid (1) and air is emulsified when driven through the gap (13).

The present invention provides a device 1 for producing milk foam, which makes use of Couette flow and a high shear stress that is accordingly applied to a milk-air mixture in a gap between a housing, in particular an outer cylinder, and a rotating element rotating arranged therein. The device further comprises a milk supply circuit supplying the fluid inlet with milk and an air supply circuit supplying the fluid inlet with air, both supply circuits being independent from each other.