Beverage preparation with simple capsule transfer

A system comprising a capsule processing machine for preparing a beverage from a capsule having a body containing an ingredient by circulating a liquid into such capsule and centrifugally driving such capsule, comprising:

• a first capsule handler and a second capsule handler that are movable one relative to the other from:
• a capsule transfer configuration for receiving said capsule by the first and second capsule handlers and/or releasing said capsule from the first and second capsule handlers;
• to
• a capsule processing configuration for centrifuging said capsule by rotation about a processing axis of the first and second capsule handlers;
• and
• a capsule insertion passage associated with one or more capsule insertion guides configured to guide said capsule towards a capsule holding position in a space between the first and second capsule handlers in their transfer configuration, for instance the space being associated with a holding device, such as one or more stop members configured to hold said capsule in the space prior to being held by at least one of the first and second capsule handlers relatively moving towards and/or into the capsule processing configuration,
• a machine frame and/or housing which is stationary when the first and second capsule handlers are rotated for centrifugation and which supports the first and second capsule handlers,
• the capsule insertion guide(s) comprise(s) at least a rotatable portion that is stationary relative to at least one of the first and second capsule handlers and rotates therewith when the first and second capsule handlers are rotated for centrifugation and a capsule having a body containing an ingredient, the capsule being handled by the capsule insertion guide(s) associated with the machine's capsule insertion passage, the rotatable portion of the insertion guide(s) being configured to rotate with the machine's first and second capsule handlers in their capsule processing configuration when the capsule is centrifuged.

A method of preparing in a machine a beverage from a capsule having a body containing an ingredient by circulating a liquid into such capsule and centrifugally driving such capsule, comprising:

• a first capsule handler and a second capsule handler that are movable one relative to the other from:
• a capsule transfer configuration for receiving said capsule by the first and second capsule handlers and/or releasing said capsule from the first and second capsule handlers;
• to
• a capsule processing configuration for centrifuging said capsule by rotation about a processing axis of the first and second capsule handlers;
• and
• a capsule insertion passage associated with one or more capsule insertion guides configured to guide said capsule towards a capsule holding position in a space between the first and second capsule handlers in their transfer configuration, for instance the space being associated with a holding device, such as one or more stop members configured to hold said capsule in the space prior to being held by at least one of the first and second capsule handlers relatively moving towards and/or into the capsule processing configuration,
• a machine frame and/or housing which is stationary when the first and second capsule handlers are rotated for centrifugation and which supports the first and second capsule handlers,
• the capsule insertion guide(s) comprise(s) at least a rotatable portion that is stationary relative to at least one of the first and second capsule handlers and rotates therewith when the first and second capsule handlers are rotated for centrifugation, a beverage from a capsule having a body containing an ingredient, the method comprising:
• transferring the capsule to the first and second capsule handlers in their transfer configuration to receive the capsule via the capsule insertion guide(s) associated with the capsule insertion passage;
• bringing the first and second capsule handlers into the capsule processing configuration;
• and
• centrifuging the capsule handled by the first and second capsule handlers that are rotated with the capsule insertion guide(s) about the processing axis and circulating the liquid into the capsule to form the beverage.