A capsule for holding an extractable product for dispensing a beverage is disclosed. The capsule comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom, a lid, and an entrance opening portion and an exit opening portion for letting fluid in the capsule and draining prepared beverage from the capsule, respectively, of which at least one opening portion is closed to prevent fluid from passing. The circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid of the capsule enclose an inner space that comprises an extractable product, and the capsule further comprises at least one moveable portion of the capsule that extends at a distance from a respective opening portion, and that is arranged to open the respective opening portion by being moved with respect to the respective opening portion.

The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way the system comprises a plurality of magnetic and/or electric field elements (31, 32, 33, 301) for separately sensing a magnetic and/or electric field, wherein said consumable comprises one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements (42, 51, 61, 71, 81, 82, 91, 92) and the sensed magnetic fields depend on at least one characteristic of the one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements, a driver (34) for providing drive currents to said magnetic and/or electric field elements, and a signal processor (35) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on the sensed magnetic and/or electric fields.

System for making an infused beverage, includes: at least one infusion assembly of a machine for preparing infused beverages; at least one capsule containing an aromatic substance for the preparation of an infused beverage through interaction with a liquid; the capsule including: a cup-shaped body with a recess having a depth for containing a predetermined amount of an aromatic substance; the body including at least one side wall and a bottom, and running around a vertical axis; the first infusion assembly including: a first infusing member, including a recess for accommodating at least partially the capsule; a second infusing member for cooperating with the first infusing member so as to at least partially close the recess to define an accommodating seat with the first infusing member; the capsule including first coupling elements; the infusion assembly including second coupling elements structured to removably engage the first coupling elements.

A machine-implemented method, comprising: heat-sterilising water; cooling the sterilised water; removably receiving a capsule containing powdered infant milk formula in a capsule chamber; injecting the cooled, sterilised water into the capsule chamber and through the capsule to form liquid infant milk formula; steam-sterilising the capsule chamber after removal of the capsule.

A brewing unit includes a brewing chamber with first and second brewing chamber portions movable one with respect to the other, and a water heater. Further, the brewing unit includes a structural frame supporting the two brewing chamber portions, and on which forces generated by the pressurized water in the brewing chamber during brewing are discharged. The structural frame includes two side components arranged sideways of the brewing chamber, and two end components mechanically constrained to the side components. One of the two end components includes the first brewing chamber portion. Further, the side components and the end components form a closed structure, whereto the water heater is in turn constrained independently, with separate constraining members, from the first brewing chamber portion and adjacent thereto, outside the closed structure. The forces generated by the pressurized water in the brewing chamber during brewing are also discharged on the water heater.

A device (1) handles a capsule (2a, 2b) having a flange (2a, 2b). The device comprises: a first part (10) and a second part (20) that are relatively movable across a space (3a, 3b) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule (2a, 2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part (30) for guiding such capsule (2a, 2b) to in between the first and second parts (10,20) when in the transfer position; and stop means (32a,32b). The stop means are configured for successively: stopping the capsule (2a, 2b) in between the first and second parts (10, 20) in the transfer position; maintaining the capsule while the first and second parts (10, 20) are relatively moved from the transfer position towards the extraction position to receive the capsule; and allowing a liberation of the capsule from the stop means after reception of the capsule by at least one of the first and second parts (10,20) while relatively moving towards the extraction position. The third part (30) has a flange section (300) that has a first position for engaging with and guiding the capsule flange (2a, 2b) when the first and second parts (10, 20) are in the transfer position before liberation of such capsule (2a, 2b) from the stop means (32a, 32b). The flange section (300) in the first position extends into such space (3a, 3b), the flange section (300) being moved after the capsule liberation from its first position to a second position in which the flange section (300) is retracted from the space (3a, 3b) to allow a crossing thereof by the at least one of the first and second parts (10, 20).

A machine (1) comprises a frame (1) and a capsule handling device (1) mounted in and/or on the frame (1). The device (1) has a first part (10) and a second part (20) that is movable relatively to the frame (1) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing said capsule (2a,2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule and vice versa. The second part (20) comprising: a capsule receptacle (21) delimiting a cavity (21) for receiving such capsule (2a,2b) and for forming in the extraction position an extraction chamber (21) with the first part (10); and a first portion (21a) and a second portion (21b) that are relatively movable between a first relative position and a second relative position to change at least one dimension (21da,21db,21ha,21hb) of the cavity (21) and of the extraction chamber (21). The device (1) further comprises an actuator (30,300) connected to the second part (20) for driving the movable second part (20) between the transfer position and the extraction position. The actuator (30,300) is further connected to the first and/or second portions (21a,21b) of the second part (20) to relatively move the first and second portions (21a,21b) between their first and second relative positions.

A capsule assembly including a capsule for preparation of beverages and a conveyor cap mounted on the capsule for conveying the beverage exiting the capsule. The capsule includes an inlet wall, an outlet wall, and a lateral wall defining an internal volume inside which at least one beverage ingredient is housed. The outlet wall includes one or more capsule beverage outlets. The conveyor cap is mounted on the capsule to define an enclosure space between the outlet wall and an inner surface of the conveyor cap. The conveyor cap includes one or more beverage delivery openings and is movably mounted on the capsule. The capsule beverage outlets and the conveyor cap are configured to interact so that the capsule beverage outlets are opened by the conveyor cap due to a relative movement between the capsule and the conveyor cap.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage has: a body (1) with a fluid line (1,1) extending from a liquid inlet (1) to a beverage outlet (1); a liquid tank (15) that has an outlet (16) connected to the liquid inlet (1); and a carrier (11,12) assembled to the body (1) for carrying the liquid tank (15). The carrier (11,12) is movable with the liquid tank (15) as a unit (10) inwards into the body (1) into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet (1) and outwards from the body (1) into a service position.

A pack for preparing a food or beverage product is disclosed, as well as methods of use thereof. The pack includes an insert comprising at least one primary fluid inlet with aqueous and gaseous fluid injection inlets, as well as a container where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, wherein the aqueous fluid injection inlet and the gaseous fluid injection inlet communicate with the inner volume of the container. Also disclosed is a machine for use with the pack in preparing a food or beverage product, a system containing the pack and the machine, and methods of use of the system containing the pack and machine. Applicant respectfully submits that no substantive changes have been made to the specification of the application, and that the amendments to the application do not constitute new matter. Entry thereof is respectfully requested.