# US 11,304,556 B2 · Beverage preparation machine equipped with a rotating stirring device and a coffee nozzle

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- Number: US 11,304,556 B2
- Document ID: US11304556B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/426,711
- Filed: 2019-05-30
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-31
- Assignees: Seb S.A.
- Applicants: Seb S.A.
- Inventors: Olivier Beaudet; Gilles Morin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304556B2

## CPC

- A47J 31/4489: {Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk}
- A47J 31/4482: {Details allowing to adapt the beverage-making apparatus to the size of the brewing vessel or the beverage container, e.g. with adjustable support for the beverage container or adjustable hot water outlet}
- A47J 31/46: Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
- A47J 31/4485: {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}
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## Abstract

A beverage preparation machine includes a frame equipped with a cup holder, a coffee dispensing nozzle including an outlet orifice and a rotating stirring device including a tool rotating about an axis and intended to cooperate with a preparation contained in a container resting on the cup holder, the rotating stirring device including a conduit for conveying hot water and/or steam toward the rotating tool. The rotating stirring device is mobile in vertical translation parallel to the axis between a top standby position, in which the rotating tool is situated above the container, and a bottom working position, in which the rotating tool is situated in the container. The outlet orifice is separated from the rotating stirring device and arranged at a constant distance from the axis so that the outlet orifice and the rotating tool are arranged above an upper opening of the container arranged on the cup holder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A beverage preparation machine comprising a frame equipped with a cup holder, at least one coffee dispensing nozzle comprising an outlet orifice and a rotating stirring device comprising a tool adapted to rotate about an axis and adapted to cooperate with a preparation contained in a container resting on the cup holder, the rotating stirring device comprising a conduit adapted to convey hot water or steam toward the rotating tool, wherein the rotating stirring device is moveable in vertical translation parallel to the axis between a top standby position, in which the rotating tool is situated above the container, and a bottom working position, in which the rotating tool is situated in the container, and wherein the outlet orifice is separated from the rotating stirring device and arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation of the rotating tool, the distance being constant and smaller than 6 cm so that the outlet orifice of the coffee dispensing nozzle and the rotating tool are arranged above an upper opening of the container arranged on the cup holder,
wherein the outlet orifice and the rotating tool are in a same first horizontal plane when the rotating stirring device is in the top standby position,
wherein the cup holder is adjustable in height with respect to the frame between a bottom position for receiving larger containers and a top position for receiving smaller containers, and
wherein the coffee dispensing nozzle is moveable in vertical translation parallel to the axis between a raised position, in which the outlet orifice is intended to cooperate with a larger container, and a lowered position, in which the outlet orifice is intended to cooperate with a smaller container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet orifice of the coffee dispensing nozzle is arranged so as to be fixed with respect to the frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the first horizontal plane and a second horizontal plane passing through an upper face of the cup holder are separated by a height, the height being greater than 10 cm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 3, wherein the height is greater than 15 cm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit equipped with a control element configured to initiate a preparation based on milk and coffee with a single action.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 5, wherein the single action is a single press.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating stirring device comprises an electric motor adapted to drive the rotating tool.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the conduit for conveying hot water or steam comprises a tubular portion which extends along the axis between a first extremity on which the rotating tool is arranged and a second extremity arranged on a drive shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 8, wherein the tubular portion is removably arranged on the drive shaft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 9, wherein the drive shaft comprises a hollow portion for conveying hot water or steam, on which the tubular portion is arranged, and wherein the hollow portion comprises an outlet orifice for hot water or steam.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 10, wherein the rotating stirring device comprises a steam box, the steam box comprising a chamber, a radial steam inlet channel and two sealed guide bearings of the drive shaft of the rotating tool, and wherein the hollow portion for conveying hot water or steam connects the chamber to the tubular portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 10, wherein the coffee dispensing nozzle and the rotating tool are arranged side by side in a vertical plane parallel to the front face of the frame.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a front face and wherein the coffee dispensing nozzle and the rotating tool are arranged in front of the front face.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the distance is smaller than 4 cm.
