A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages comprising: a housing; a first reservoir station; a first reservoir for containing an aqueous medium, the first reservoir being connectable to said first reservoir station; an auxiliary module station for receiving an auxiliary module.

Assemblies, machines, systems, and methods for the generation of superheated are discussed A steam super-heat assembly is employed for generating superheated steam for the preparation of coffee-based beverages. The assembly includes a body that includes an internal cavity, a heating element that includes heating surfaces positioned within the internal cavity, and a flow path within the internal cavity. The body also includes an input that enables fluid access into the internal cavity and an output that enables fluid egress out of the internal cavity. The heating element heats the heating surfaces of the heating element. The flow path enables fluid to flow from the input, through the internal cavity of the body, and to the output of the body. The heating surfaces form a portion of the flow path. When the fluid flows through the internal cavity, the fluid is in direct physical contact with the heating surfaces.

Assemblies, machines, systems, and methods for the generation of superheated are discussed A steam super-heat assembly is employed for generating superheated steam for the preparation of coffee-based beverages. The assembly includes a body that includes an internal cavity, a heating element that includes heating surfaces positioned within the internal cavity, and a flow path within the internal cavity. The body also includes an input that enables fluid access into the internal cavity and an output that enables fluid egress out of the internal cavity. The heating element heats the heating surfaces of the heating element. The flow path enables fluid to flow from the input, through the internal cavity of the body, and to the output of the body. The heating surfaces form a portion of the flow path. When the fluid flows through the internal cavity, the fluid is in direct physical contact with the heating surfaces.

The invention provides a device (200, 300, 400) for heating a continuous flow fluid. Said device (200, 300, 400) consists of a steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) through which the fluid to be heated flows and of at least one sheathed resistor (2, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) that is parallel to the steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) and that is in thermal contact therewith. The steel conduit (3, 3′, 3″) and the at least one heating element (2, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) are incorporated in a die-casting element made of an aluminium alloy.

An on-demand hot water dispenser includes a housing, a water heating system received in the housing, and a faucet connected to the water heating system through the housing for dispensing hot water into a container. A drip tray is positioned below the faucet and a screen covers the drip tray to support the container during dispensing of the hot water.

A heater for heating liquid to boiling comprises a heating element (48; 106), a first heating region (18, 20; 100) heated by said heating element (48; 106) for heating liquid flowing therethrough to a temperature below boiling, and a second heating region (22; 102) for heating said liquid to boiling. The second region permits the exit of steam therefrom separately from heated water.

A continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater in a beverage vending machine. The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater comprises a tubular body internally defining at least one channel and including at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening; a heating element; and an electric winding wound directly in contact around an external surface of the tubular body and which can be electrically powered to generate an electromagnetic induction field and heat, in this manner, the heating element by the effect of the electromagnetic induction field. The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater further comprises an upstream fluid baffle, which is housed within the channel in a position fluidically downstream of the inlet opening and fluidically upstream of the heating element, and is shaped so as to reduce the hydrodynamic drag on said fluid between the inlet opening and the heating element.

An electric heater (100, 101), in particular for a device or household appliance for preparing hot beverages, comprising—a metal body (4); —at least one electric resistor (1, 6) arranged in the metal body (4); —a first pipe (2) and a second pipe (3) arranged in the metal body (4); wherein the first pipe (2) and the second pipe (3) are mutually distinct and adapted to be connected to each other so that a fluid can pass from the first pipe (2) to the second pipe (3) and/or vice versa; wherein the inner section of the second pipe (3) is greater than the inner section of the first pipe (2).

The invention relates to an instant tube heater (1) for heating flowing liquid comprising: a hollow heating tube (2) comprising a tubular flow passage (20) extending along a central axis (I) for heating liquid as it flows through it, an inlet connector (3) sealingly connected to an inlet end (21) of the hollow heating tube, an outlet connector (4) sealingly connected to an outlet end (22) of the hollow heating tube, a temperature sensor (5) connected to the outlet connector (4) for sensing the temperature of liquid leaving the heating tube, wherein an inlet flow deviating member (6) is positioned locally at the inlet end (21) of the heating tube (2) for forcing the flow of liquid entering the tubular passage of the heating tube in at least one direction away from the direction of the central axis (I) of the tubular passage.

A continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater in a beverage vending machine. The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater comprises a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, internally defining at least one channel, and including at least one inlet opening through which the fluid to be heated is fed, in use, to the channel, and one outlet opening through which the heated fluid flows out, in use, from the channel; a heating element arranged, at least partially, inside the channel; and an electric winding which is wound directly in contact around an external surface of the tubular body and which can be electrically powered to generate an electromagnetic induction field and heat, in this manner, the heating element by the effect of said electromagnetic induction field. The inlet and outlet openings are arranged at respective opposite axial ends of the tubular body in respective eccentric positions with respect to the longitudinal axis.