A passive valve arrangement is described. The passive valve arrangement is used in a hydraulic circuit of a coffee machine. The passive valve arrangement includes an inlet channel and an outlet channel with a valve member between the inlet and outlet channels. The valve member is biased to isolate the inlet and outlet channels. Further, the valve member couples the inlet and outlet channels in response to a pressure present at the inlet channel. An integrated valve status detector is used to provide valve status feedback.

A combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer. The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer includes a water heating section and a water storage section. The water heating section includes a boiler reservoir, a heating element, a first water discharge mechanism, and a second discharge mechanism. The water storage section includes a cold water reservoir and a hot water reservoir disposed above the boiler reservoir.

An article of manufacture for providing a foot pedal controlled beverage dispenser is disclosed. The foot pedal controlled beverage dispenser has a beverage dispenser having a beverage storage cavity and a beverage dispenser signal controller, a dispensing valve coupled to the beverage storage cavity and operating under the control of the beverage dispenser signal controller and a foot pedal communicatively coupled to the beverage dispenser signal controller providing an input signal to open the dispensing valve.

The invention relates to a device for metering an additive into a fluid, containing a valve body, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. A first channel system extends between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet in the valve body, and a second channel system extends between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet in the valve body such that in the operating state fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet either through the first channel system or through the second channel system. The valve body contains a docking element which is configured for docking a cartridge for the additive. A switchover device is provided which can be switched if the cartridge is docked such that the second channel system is fluidically connected to the cartridge when the cartridge is connected to the docking element.

A nozzle 20 has a fluid flow passage 26 which defines a fluid flow path from an inlet 5 end of said passage towards an outlet end of said passage. A restrictor 29a is movable under the control of an actuation system 27 relative to the passage to vary the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid flow path through the passage. The restrictor 29 is moved to project into the passage to provide a restricted opening in the passage or removed from the passage to allow an unrestricted flow through the 10 passage. The nozzle 20 is particularly suitable for use in a beverage preparation machine to generate microfoam in a beverage. When the restrictor 29 is retracted from the passage 29, the passage and the restrictor can be cleaned by flushing the nozzle. The restrictor 29 may be a pin-like member aligned with the passage and moveable parallel to the axis of the passage.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21) during beverage preparation. The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); a valve arrangement (50) for controlling a flow of the water (4) along the water guide (30); an actuator for actuating the valve arrangement (50) to control the water flow along the water guide (30); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that is stationary during beverage preparation and that supports at least the valve arrangement (50). The valve arrangement (50) is rotatably mounted to the support structure (70) and driven in rotation by the actuator to control the water flow.

A brewed beverage-making machine comprising: a supply line having a branch point; a mixing unit configured to receive and mix water at a first temperature with water at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to generate a mixture; a first fluid path connecting the branch point to the mixing unit and configured to supply the water at the first temperature to the mixing unit; a second fluid path connecting the branch point to the mixing unit and configured to supply water at the second temperature to the mixing unit, said second fluid path being in parallel with the first flow path; a first nozzle and a second nozzle arranged respectively along the first and the second fluid path, said first nozzle and second nozzle being configured to define respectively the fluid flow rate along the first fluid path and the second fluid path.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10, 20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); and a water guide (30) extending from the water source into the beverage processing unit (10, 20) arranged such that substantially all the water (4) delivered into the chamber (21) for preparing the beverage (3) is guided by the water guide (30). The water source and the water guide (30) are thermally passive so as to deliver the water (4) into the chamber (21) unconditioned by any active thermal conditioner of such machine (1).

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) includes: a beverage processing unit (10, 20) that delimits a chamber (21) in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is mixed with water (4) during beverage preparation; a water source for delivering the water towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); and a water guide (30) extending from the water source into the beverage processing unit (10, 20) arranged such that substantially all the water (4) delivered into the chamber (21) for preparing the beverage (3) is guided by the water guide (30). The water guide (30), and optionally the water source, is/are configured such that the water (4) is driven from the water source into the chamber (21) along the water guide (30) substantially only by effect of gravity and/or capillary and/or gas pressure and/or depression forces.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10, 20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the processing unit (10, 20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); a support structure (70), such as a frame, having a base (72) that is stationary during beverage preparation, the processing unit (10, 20) being rotatably mounted to the support structure (70) about a processing unit axis (71‘); and an actuator supported by the support structure (70) that has a driving output member (61) rotating about an output axis (61’). The output member (61) is coupled to the processing unit (10, 20) for driving the processing unit (10,20) in rotation. The output member (61) is coupled to the processing unit (10, 20) by a transmission (611, 612, 62) such that the output axis (61‘) is off-set relative to the processing unit axis (71’).