Beverage machine for different spatial environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675204-B2
Application number	US-201113882076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2011
Priority date	Oct 27, 2010
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A beverage preparation machine ( 1 ) comprising: a body ( 2 ) having one or more outer faces ( 21,22 ) and a beverage outlet for delivering a beverage on a beverage dispensing area ( 27 ); and a module ( 3 ) operatively connected to the body adjacent to one of said one or more outer faces. The module is movable into a plurality of different operative connection positions along said one or more outer faces of the body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a body having one or more outer faces and a beverage outlet for delivering a beverage over a beverage dispensing area;
an inlet channel configured for a capsule containing a beverage ingredient to be inserted therethrough; and
a module operatively connected to the body adjacent to one of the one or more outer faces,
the module is movable into a plurality of different operative connection positions along the one or more outer faces of the body and is operatively connected to the body by a connection device, the module comprising a component selected from the group consisting of (i) a supply reservoir configured to supply a liquid to the body through a channel extending through the connection device and (ii) a collection reservoir configured to collect waste material from the body, and the module having a dedicated sub-function and being in position for carrying out the dedicated sub-function when in the operative connection positions,
the connection device comprises a pivotable element connected to the body, a connector attached to the module, and a rigid arm extending from the pivotable element to the connector,
the rigid arm extends from the body at an angle, and the connection device is configured to vary the angle.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module is translationally movable along the one or more outer faces.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module is rotatably movable around the body.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module is movable into a plurality of different positions of operative connection adjacent and along a body face.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the body has a first body face and a second body face, the module being movable into a first position of operative connection adjacent to the first body face and into a second position of operative connection adjacent to the second body face.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module is movable into an infinite number of different positions of operative connection.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module is movable into a limited number of different positions of operative connection.

8. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module has one or more module faces, the module face and the body face being generally parallel or tangential in the plurality of different positions of operative connection.

9. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the connection device includes a communication channel extending from the body to the module.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the connection device is selected from the group consisting of an electric connection with a bearing, a fluid connection with a bearing, and a combination thereof.

11. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the module comprises a storage reservoir for a use selected from the group consisting of storing a supply of ingredient for the body, collecting waste material from the body, and a combination thereof.

12. The machine of claim 11 , wherein the module comprises a collection reservoir for collecting waste material from the body.

13. The machine of claim 11 , wherein the module comprises a supply reservoir for supplying an ingredient.

14. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the body has a first body face and a second body face, the module being movable into a first position of operative connection adjacent to the first body face and into a second position of operative connection adjacent to the second body face, the body having a third body face, the module being movable into a third position of operative connection adjacent to the third body face.

15. The machine of claim 1 , wherein moving along the one or more outer faces of the body comprises moving the module from a first position aligned with a first face of the body to a second position aligned with a second face of the body.

16. The machine of claim 15 , wherein the module has a first face parallel to the first face of the body in the first position and a second face parallel to the second face of the body in the second position.

17. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a body having an outer face and a beverage outlet;
an inlet channel configured for a capsule containing a beverage ingredient to be inserted therethrough; and
a module connected to the body, and
the module is movable into a plurality of different operative connection positions along the outer face of the body and is operatively connected to the body by a connection device, the module comprising a component selected from the group consisting of (i) a supply reservoir configured to supply a liquid to the body through a channel extending through the connection device and (ii) a collection reservoir configured to collect waste material from the body, and the module having a dedicated sub-function and being in position for carrying out the dedicated sub-function when in the operative connection positions,
the connection device comprises a pivotable element connected to the body, a connector attached to the module, and a rigid arm extending from the pivotable element to the connector,
the rigid arm extends from the body at an angle, and the connection device is configured to vary the angle.

Assignees

• Cahen Antoine
• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Cahen Antoine

Classifications

• A47J31/46

  Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices · CPC title

• A47J31/4485 Primary

  Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle · CPC title

• A47J31/4403 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• A47J2201/00

  Devices having a modular construction · CPC title