Beverage preparation device with thermally optimised architecture

A capsule processing machine for preparing a beverage from a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient, by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the capsule processing machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule;
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space;
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit;
• and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space;
• and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover
• wherein at least one of the holder and the cover is connected to a driver that is arranged to drive the at least one of the holder and the cover in rotation when the holder and the cover are in the closed position.

A capsule processing machine for preparing a beverage from a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient, by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the capsule processing machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule;
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space;
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit;
• and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space;
• and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover,
• wherein the body of the thermal conditioner forms a beverage collecting surface, and wherein the machine is configured such that the beverage when leaving the beverage collecting surface and the water when guided by the water inlet have a temperature difference of less than 10° C.

A capsule processing machine for preparing a beverage from a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient, by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the capsule processing machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule;
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space;
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit;
• and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space;
• and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover,
• wherein the thermal conditioner comprises at least one of:
• a thermoblock having a metal block forming the body of the thermal conditioner;
• a duct in the body of the thermal conditioner, the duct being configured to thermally condition the water into the water inlet;
• and
• a thermal generator.

A combination of a machine for preparing a beverage from a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient, by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule,
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space,
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit, and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space, and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover, wherein the body of the thermal conditioner forms a beverage collecting surface, and wherein the machine further comprises a discharge arrangement configured to guide the beverage from the beverage collecting surface to a dispensing area configured to receive a user-receptacle for collecting the beverage from the machine;
• and
• the capsule for preparing the beverage in the machine.

A capsule processing machine for preparing a beverage from a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient, by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the capsule processing machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule;
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space;
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit;
• and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space;
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover;
• and
• a frame or outside housing that is stationary when the beverage is being prepared from the capsule in the receiving space, wherein the cover is movable relative to the frame or housing between the open position and the closed position, wherein the cover is pivotally and/or translationally movable relatively to the frame or outside housing along a guiding structure,
• wherein the cover is pivotable relative to the frame or outside housing about a pivoting axis that is remote from the thermal conditioner, the cover being connected to the pivoting axis by a connection member,
• wherein the connection member is configured to cover a functional block when the cover and the holder are in the closed position and to uncover the functional block when the cover and the holder are in the open position.

A combination of (i) a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient and (ii) a machine for preparing a beverage from the capsule by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule,
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space,
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit, and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space, and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover, wherein the body of the thermal conditioner forms a beverage collecting surface, and
• wherein the machine is configured such that the beverage when leaving the beverage collecting surface and the water when guided by the water inlet have a temperature difference of less than 10° C.

A combination of (i) a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient and (ii) a machine for preparing a beverage from the capsule by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule,
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space,
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit, and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space, and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover,
• wherein the thermal conditioner comprises at least one of:
• a thermoblock having a metal block forming the body of the thermal conditioner;
• a duct in the body of the thermal conditioner, the duct being configured to thermally condition the water into the water inlet;
• and
• a thermal generator.

A combination of (i) a capsule having a body containing a flavouring ingredient and (ii) a machine for preparing a beverage from the capsule by passing water into the capsule to be mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule, the machine comprising:

• a beverage processing unit having:
• a holder delimiting a receiving space for receiving the capsule,
• a cover for covering the holder, the cover and the holder being relatively movable between:
• an open position for placing the capsule into the receiving space and/or removing the capsule from the receiving space;
• and
• a closed position for preparing the beverage from the capsule in the receiving space,
• a beverage outlet arrangement extending between the holder and the cover and/or through the cover, the beverage outlet arrangement configured to deliver the beverage from the processing unit, and
• a water inlet extending through the cover and configured to guide the water into the receiving space, wherein the water is mixed with the flavouring ingredient in the capsule to form the beverage in the receiving space, and
• a thermal conditioner, wherein a body of the thermal conditioner forms a conditioner cavity that defines or contains at least a part of the cover;
• and
• a frame or outside housing that is stationary when the beverage is being prepared from the capsule in the receiving space, wherein the cover is movable relative to the frame or housing between the open position and the closed position, wherein the cover is pivotally and/or translationally movable relatively to the frame or outside housing along a guiding structure,
• wherein the cover is pivotable relative to the frame or outside housing about a pivoting axis that is remote from the thermal conditioner, the cover being connected to the pivoting axis by a connection member,
• wherein the connection member is configured to cover a functional block when the cover and the holder are in the closed position and to uncover the functional block when the cover and the holder are in the open position.