# US 10,307,010 B2 · Beverage preparation machine with flexible drop stop

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- Number: US 10,307,010 B2
- Document ID: US10307010B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/514,727
- Filed: 2015-09-28
- Published: 2017-08-03
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-29
- Assignees: Nestec S.A.
- Applicants: Nestec S.A.
- Inventors: Luc Fontbonne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307010B2

## CPC

- A47J 31/0605: {with a valve at the filter-outlet; Anti-drip devices (A47J31/0615, A47J31/0621 take precedence)}
- A47J 31/3604: {with a mechanism arranged to move the brewing chamber between loading, infusing and ejecting stations}
- A47J 31/4428: {with a drip-tray underneath}
- A47J 31/46: Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
- A47J 31/467: {for the infusion}
- A47J 31/36: with mechanical pressure-producing means
- A47J 31/3633: {Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position}
- A47J 31/44: Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06)
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## Abstract

A machine for dispensing a beverage (5) includes a beverage processing module (2) that has an outlet (20). The module (2) further has a first part (25) and a second part (26) that can be relatively moved between: a transfer configuration for introducing a beverage ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26) and/or removing the ingredient from therebetween; and a processing configuration for forming said beverage (5) from said ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26). The machine also includes:—a liquid driver (31) for driving a liquid along a liquid line (30) from a liquid source (32) via the processing module (2) to the outlet (20);—a drop collector (1) having a beverage guide (10) and a motor (11) for moving the guide (10) relatively to the outlet (20) into either a dispensing position for dispensing beverage (5) from the outlet (20) into a dispensing area (6) or a collecting position for dispensing residual beverage (5′) from the outlet (20) into a service area (7);—a control unit (3) for controlling the liquid driver (31) and the motor (11, 11a, 11b); and a user-interface (3′) for providing user-instructions to the control unit (3). The module (2) comprises a module actuator (21) for driving the first and second parts (25, 26) from the transfer configuration to the processing configuration and vice-versa, the actuator (21) being independent of the motor (11). The control unit (3) is arranged to activate the liquid driver (31) and the motor (11) upon receiving a user-instruction from the user-interface (32) independently of a presence or an absence of a receptacle (60) in the dispensing area (6).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A machine for dispensing a beverage, the machine comprising:
a beverage processing module that has an outlet as well as a first part and a second part that can be relatively moved between (i) a transfer configuration for introducing a beverage ingredient and (ii) a processing configuration for forming the beverage from the ingredient between the first and second parts;
a liquid driver for driving a liquid along a liquid line from a liquid source;
a drop collector having a beverage guide and a motor for moving the beverage guide relatively to the outlet into (a) a dispensing position whereby the beverage flowing from the outlet is delivered to a receptacle in a dispensing area during a beverage serving and (b) a collecting position whereby a residual beverage flowing from the outlet is delivered to a service area after the beverage serving;
a control unit for controlling the liquid driver and the motor; and
a user-interface for providing a user-instruction to the control unit,
the beverage processing module comprising a module actuator for driving the first and second parts from the transfer configuration to the processing configuration and vice-versa, the module actuator being independent of the motor,
the control unit is arranged to activate the liquid driver and the motor upon receiving the user-instruction from the user-interface independently of a presence or an absence of a receptacle in the dispensing area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to activate the liquid driver and the motor independently of whether the beverage processing module is in the transfer configuration or the processing configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged to activate the liquid driver and the motor only when the beverage processing module is in the processing configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to simultaneously or within a time span of less than 5 sec.
activate the liquid driver and the motor to relatively move the beverage guide into the dispensing position; and/or
deactivate the liquid driver and activate the motor to relatively move the beverage guide into the collecting position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage guide is provided with a thermal conditioner.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to deactivate the liquid driver and activate the motor to relatively move the beverage guide into the collecting position at user-actuation of the user-interface or user-actuation of the module actuator, while the liquid driver is active; or at expiry of a predetermined period of time after the user-actuation of the user-interface for activation of the liquid driver.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the module actuator is semi-automatic or fully automatic.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the module actuator is manual.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage guide has at least one directing surface for collecting the beverage from the outlet either to the service area or to the dispensing area.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage guide is moved by the motor via a transmission.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the outlet is fixed, at least a part of the beverage guide being movable relative to the outlet, and the outlet extending from a fixed part of the beverage processing module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the outlet is a movably arrangement.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the beverage guide is pivotable relatively to the outlet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the beverage guide is translatable relatively to the outlet.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage guide and the outlet have a configuration selected from the group consisting of (1) the beverage guide is movable and the outlet is fixed; (2) the beverage guide is fixed and the outlet is movable; and (3) the beverage guide is movable and the outlet is movable.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the module actuator comprises a handle configured to be driven manually by a user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The machine of claim 16, wherein the handle is pivotable and/or translatable.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the beverage guide is translatable along a generally horizontal axis.