EP4719142A1 - Machine for dispensing beverages with foam - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (100) comprises a beverage processing unit (5) and a beverage outlet (10) in fluid communication with the unit (5). The beverage outlet (10) has: a collection cavity (10a) delimited by a bottom (10b) and (a) sidewall(s) (10c) which are configured to collect beverage (100) from the beverage processing unit (5); a bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) configured to dispense beverage (100) from the outlet (10) to an area (2) for placing a user-recipient (9) to collect such dispensed beverage (100); and a beverage transfer channel (10a') that fluidically connects the collection cavity (10a) to the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) and that is configured to guide beverage (100) between the collection cavity (10a) and the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14). The beverage transfer channel (10a') extends along a direction of flow (F) from the collection cavity (10a) around at least part of the sidewall (10c) of the collection cavity (10a) to the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14).

Description

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGES WITH FOAM Field of the Invention The field of the invention pertains to beverage preparation machines, in particular but not exclusively using capsules of an ingredient of the beverage to be prepared, having an arrangement for managing the beverage with foam, for example crema, to a user-receptacle. For the purpose of the present description, a “beverage” is meant to include any human-consumable liquid substance, such as tea, coffee, hot or cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc… A “capsule” is meant to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredient, such as a flavouring ingredient, within an enclosing packaging of any material, in particular an airtight packaging, e.g. plastic, aluminium, recyclable and/or biodegradable packagings, and of any shape and structure, including soft pods or rigid cartridges containing the ingredient. The capsule may contain an amount of ingredient for preparing a single beverage serving or a plurality of beverage servings. Background Art Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or to be dissolved; for other machines, the ingredients are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or else are added at the time of preparation of the drink. Most beverage machines possess within a housing: filling means that include a pump for liquid, usually water, which pumps the liquid from a source of water that is cold or indeed heated through heating means, such as a heating resistor, a boiler, a thermoblock or the like, a brewing unit in which an ingredient is brewed with water or a mixing unit in which ingredients are mixed together, and a beverage outlet for dispensing the prepared beverage. Typically, the beverage outlet is located above a beverage dispensing zone, e.g. above a grid for supporting a cup or other recipient under the outlet and for the passage of drops of liquid from the beverage outlet or other spills into a collector tray located under the grid. There is a large variety of beverage preparations, in particular coffee preparation, with correspondingly dedicated preparation systems. The flavouring ingredient may be supplied to the machine within a capsule or loosely or as an agglomerate or in bulk, e.g. supplied as a particulate ingredient. For the preparation of coffee it is known to use agglomerated roast and ground coffee portions, e.g. in the shape of balls, that are fed unpackaged to the machine. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO 2022/018245, WO 2022/018249 and WO 2022/063801 Especially in the field of coffee preparation, machines have been widely developed in which a capsule containing beverage ingredients is inserted in a brewing device. The brewing device is tightly closed about the capsule, water is injected at the first face of the capsule, the beverage is produced in the closed volume of the capsule and a brewed beverage can be drained from a second face of the capsule and collected into a receptacle such as a cup or glass. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO 2005/004683, WO 2014/076041 and WO 2013/026845. The preparation of a beverage by using centrifugation is also known. Such beverage preparation includes: providing a beverage (flavoring) ingredient, e.g. as powder and/or leaves; mixing it with liquid and rotating the mixture at sufficient speed to ensure interaction of the liquid with the ingredient while creating a gradient of pressure in the mixture. Such pressure increases gradually from the center towards the periphery of the centrifuged mixture. As liquid traverses the ingredient, e.g. coffee bed, extraction of the ingredient, e.g. coffee compounds, takes place and a liquid extract is obtained that flows out and is collected at the periphery. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO 2008/148601, WO 2013/007776, WO 2013/007779 and WO 2013/007780. WO 2006/050769, WO 2012/072758, WO 2013/127907, WO 2016/050657, WO 2016/083485, WO 2018/069266, WO 2019/121593, WO 2019/121594 and WO 2019/121865 disclose various beverage machines having a beverage outlet located downstream an ingredient processing unit configured to manage the beverage dispensing. There is still a need to provide a beverage management system to dispense beverage with a fine foam layer outside a beverage preparation machine, such a coffee with a layer of fine crema. Summary of the Invention The invention relates to a machine for dispensing a beverage. The beverage preparation machine can be an in- home or out of home machine. The machine may be for the preparation of coffee, tea, chocolate, cacao, milk, soup, baby food, etc…. The machine of the invention comprises a beverage processing unit and a beverage outlet in fluid communication with the unit. The machine may be arranged for preparing within the beverage preparation unit a beverage by passing hot or cold water or another liquid through a flavoring ingredient supplied into the unit for example within a capsule or loosely or as an agglomerate or in bulk, e.g. supplied as a particulate ingredient. The flavoring ingredient of the beverage to be prepared may be selected from ground coffee or tea or chocolate or cacao or milk powder. The beverage preparation typically includes the mixing of a plurality of beverage ingredients, e.g. water and milk powder, and/or the infusion of a beverage ingredient, such as an infusion of ground coffee or tea with water. One or more of such ingredients may be supplied in loose and/or agglomerate powder form and/or in liquid form, in particular in a concentrate form. A carrier or diluent liquid, e.g. water, may be mixed with such ingredient to form the beverage. Typically, a predetermined amount of beverage is formed and dispensed on user-request, which corresponds to a serving. The volume of such a serving may be in the range of 25 to 200 ml and even up to 400 or 1000 ml, e.g. the volume for filling a cup or a mug, depending on the type of beverage. Formed and dispensed beverages may be selected from ristrettos, espressos, lungos, cappuccinos, latte macchiato, café latte, americano coffees, teas, etc... In particular, a coffee machine may be configured for dispensing espressos, e.g. an adjustable volume of 20 to 60 ml per serving, and/or for dispensing lungos, e.g. a volume in the range of 70 to 150 ml per serving, and/or for dispensing americanos, e.g. a volume in the range of 150 to 500 ml. The beverage outlet of the machine includes a collection cavity delimited by a bottom and (a) sidewall(s) which are configured to collect beverage from the beverage processing unit. The collection cavity may be shaped substantially as a cup or a bathtub. For example, the beverage outlet is configured to accumulate a pool of beverage in the collection cavity. The beverage outlet has a bottom dispensing opening or edge configured to dispense beverage from the outlet to an area for placing a user-recipient, e.g. a cup or a mug, to collect such dispensed beverage. The user-recipient placing area can be delimited by a receptacle support. Typically the support includes a support surface for positioning a user-recipient, e.g. a mug or a cup, to collect the dispensed beverage. The support surface may be formed by a support member that is part of the machine or may be a virtual surface, e.g. the surface of a table on which the machine is placed. Examples of such support surfaces for user-recipients are disclosed in EP 1 867 260, WO 2009/074557 and WO 2013/104636. The beverage outlet includes a beverage transfer channel that fluidically connects the collection cavity to the bottom dispensing opening or edge and that is configured to guide beverage between the collection cavity and the bottom dispensing opening or edge. Typically, the beverage outlet and/or the processing unit is located at least partly in a stationary frame and/or housing. The stationary frame and/or housing may be used for assembling the machine’s components therein, e.g. the components mentioned below. Exemplary beverage preparation architectures are for instance disclosed in WO 2009/074550 and WO 2009/130099. The beverage outlet may be movable relative to the stationary frame and/or housing between a dispensing position in which the beverage outlet dispenses via the bottom dispensing opening or edge the beverage to the user-recipient placement area and a non-dispensing position in which the beverage outlet prevents dispensing via the bottom dispensing opening or edge to this area, e.g. the beverage outlet directing waste liquid towards a waste collector. Examples of such beverage outlets with dispensing and non-dispensing positions are disclosed in the references cited in the background art description above. The waste collector may include a removable receptacle, e.g. located with a machine’s frame such as a machine housing. Examples of such collectors are disclosed in EP 1 867 260, WO 2009/074557, WO 2009/074559, WO 2009/135869, WO 2011/086087 and WO 2011/154492. Typically, the waste collector is configured for collecting at least one of: one or more waste beverage ingredients, such as a used flavouring ingredient and/or waste water; one or more used capsules for supplying a beverage ingredient into the machine; and a cleaning agent, such as a cleaning, rinsing or descaling liquid. The processing unit may have a first part and a second part that are relatively movable between a proximate configuration in which they delimit a chamber for containing and processing a beverage ingredient therein and a distant configuration for receiving in the chamber and/or evacuating from the chamber such ingredient. Examples of such processing units are disclosed in the references cited in the background art description above. The beverage transfer channel extends along a direction of flow in the channel from the collection cavity around at least part of the sidewall of the collection cavity to the bottom dispensing opening or edge. Hence, beverage can flow between the collection cavity and the dispensing opening or edge along such transfer channel to allow large foam bubbles, e.g. coffee crema bubbles, to be eliminated and foam flowing with the beverage to settle into a fine layer. By providing a transfer channel that follows a periphery of the collection cavity, the opening can be maintained compact to limit the size of the outlet. The beverage transfer channel may have a width perpendicular to the flow direction in the range of 2 to 10 mm, for instance 3 to 8 mm, such as 4 to 6 mm. The beverage transfer channel may have an average length along the flow direction in the range of 5 to 80 mm, such as 15 to 60 mm, e.g. 30 to 40 mm. The beverage outlet may further incorporate different flow managing elements, e.g. as disclosed in WO 2018/069268 and WO 2019/121593. The cavity may have: a maximum width; a maximum length that is greater than the maximum width; and a maximum depth. The beverage transfer channel may have a length along the direction of flow from the collection cavity to the bottom dispensing opening or edge that is greater than the maximum width and/or the maximum length of the cavity. The beverage transfer channel may extend along a direction of flow from the collection cavity around at least 20% of a total length of the sidewall, such as at least 25% of the sidewall length, for example at least 30% of the sidewall length, e.g. at least 40% of the sidewall length. The sidewall(s) can surround the collection cavity to extend from one side to an opposite side of the transfer channel. The beverage transfer channel may include one side that is substantially delimited by the cavity sidewall(s) which extend(s) between the collection cavity and the transfer channel. The beverage transfer channel and the collection cavity may be connected by a passage having a width perpendicular to the direction of flow that is equal to a corresponding width of the transfer channel or that is narrower than such transfer channel width to slow down a flow of beverage out of the cavity and/or prevent a flow of large beverage bubbles out of the cavity. The beverage transfer channel in a beverage preparation orientation has an outlet conduit that extends along an upright flow direction, e.g. a direction at an angle in the range of 75 to 90 deg. to the horizontal such as 85 to 90 deg., and having a lower conduit part with a bottom end, the bottom dispensing opening or edge being located at the bottom end. Above its bottom end, the lower conduit part can have a single lateral dispensing opening that is configured to dispense beverage above the bottom dispensing opening or edge from the lower conduit part to the user-recipient placement area when the bottom dispensing opening or edge is partly or fully obstructed at the bottom end. The lateral dispensing opening may be configured so as to: A) extend, e.g. substantially upstream, from the bottom dispensing opening or edge, e.g. forming a continuous beverage passage therewith; B) form an elongated opening extending along the flow direction; C) form an opening that extends sideways about a central axis of the lower conduit part over an angle of less than 180 deg., such in the range of 5 to 165 deg., for instance in the range of 15 to 150 deg., for example in the range of 45 to 135 deg., e.g. in the range of 60 to 120 deg. or 75 to 105 deg., optionally the central axis being parallel or colinear with the flow direction; D) have a total outflow surface area that is greater than 50% of a total outflow surface area of the bottom dispensing opening or edge, typically in the range of 50 to 300% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom dispensing opening or edge, optionally in the range of 75 to 200% thereof, such as in the range of 85 to 150% thereof, e.g. in the range of 90 to 125% thereof; or E) a combination of two or more of features A) to D). The lower conduit part may be associated with an inner flow guide. The flow guide can be configured to: A) extend above the bottom end inside the conduit bottom part and optionally thereabove, for instance in parallel to the flow direction; B) extend below the bottom end outside the conduit bottom part, for instance in parallel to the flow direction; C) comprise one or more guide members that extend across at least part of the bottom end, optionally the single lateral dispensing opening having one side or two opposite sides delimited by such guide member(s); or D) a combination of two or all of features A) to C). The guide member(s) may be configured so as to: A) be shaped substantially as ribs or bars or upright walls; B) be connected at a central part of the bottom end, optionally the guide members being connected to a central beverage guide pin extending downstream the guide members or the beverage outlet being free of such pin; C) be spaced apart from a central part of the bottom end, optionally the guide members being spaced apart from a central beverage guide pin extending downstream the guide members or the beverage outlet being free of such pin; D) be non-intercepting each other, such as substantially parallel to one another; E) extend substantially radially relative to a or the abovementioned central axis of the lower conduit part; or F) a combination of two or more of features A) to E). The beverage processing unit may have a beverage guide and a guide outflow opening via which beverage is passed to the beverage outlet from the beverage guide. The beverage outlet can have an inflow penetrator, such as an inflow-exposed protuberance, for penetrating a flow of beverage delivered by the unit outflow opening onto the penetrator prior to reaching the bottom of the flow cavity. The inflow penetrator can include one or more of the following features: - an upright generally spear-shaped member, such as a member having a cross-section that has the shape of a cross or star or circle or convex polygon; - a top, such as a tapered top, that extends into the unit outflow opening, e.g. over a length in the range of 0.01 to 7 mm such as 0.3 to 3 mm, or that is spaced under the unit outflow opening by a distance in the range of 0.01 to 5 mm such as 0.3 to 3 mm; and - a tapered top, e.g. a tapered top extending over a length in the range of 1 to 7 mm such as 2 to 5 mm, that extends from a cylindrical or prismatic penetrator bottom, e.g. a bottom extending over a length in the range of 1 to 15 mm such as 3 to 7 mm, optionally the penetrator bottom and the tapered top having a length ratio in the range of 1.5 to 7 such as 2 to 5, e.g. 2.5 to 4. The beverage processing unit can be configured to supply to the beverage outlet a beverage, e.g. coffee typically prepared by centrifugation or pressure extraction, that comprises at least one of foam, crema, a sweetener and oil. Pressure extraction typically occurs at a pressure in the range of 3 to 25 bar, e.g. in the range of 10 to 20 bar. Example of such beverage preparation systems are described above under the header “background art”. The beverage processing unit can be configured to be fed with a liquid, e.g. water, supplied via a machine fluid line from a liquid source, e.g. a machine tank or connector to an external liquid supply line, for instance via a machine pump and/or a thermal conditioner, e.g. a heater and/or cooler. Such a pump may be used for driving a liquid, e.g. water, along a liquid line from the liquid source via the processing unit. Examples of pumps in beverage machines are disclosed in WO 2006/005425, WO 2009/024500, WO 2009/150030, WO 2010/108700 and WO 2011/107574, Liquid may thus be driven in or into the processing unit via a thermal conditioner such as a heater and/or a cooler. A suitable heater may be a boiler, a thermoblock or an on demand heater (ODH), for instance an ODH disclosed in EP 1253 844, EP 1380 243 and EP 1809 151. Other heaters are disclosed in WO 2009/043851, WO 2009/043865, WO 2009/092746 and WO 2011/157675 and WO 2012/007260. The beverage processing unit may be configured to be fed with a flavouring ingredient, e.g. supplied into the beverage processing unit optionally within a capsule or loosely or as an agglomerate or in bulk, e.g. supplied as a particulate ingredient. In an embodiment, the ingredient is supplied within such a capsule to the beverage preparation unit. The capsule may have a container covered by a lid e.g. a container and/or a lid extending radially to form a flange. The capsule may have a body that is symmetric or asymmetric, conical or frusto-conical or cylindrical or spherical or hemispherical or frusto-spherical, containing the ingredient, e.g. ground coffee, tea or cacao or another beverage ingredient. The capsule may be of the type described above under the header “field of the invention”. The capsule may be a capsule that has a container-body, e.g. a generally cup- shaped or hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal body, having a flange to which a cover lid (or membrane) is attached, in particular sealed. Typically the capsule contains a beverage ingredient. Examples of suitable capsules are disclosed in WO 2008/148601, WO 2008/148604, WO 2008/148646, WO 2008/148650, WO 2008/148656, WO 2008/148834, WO 2011/141532, WO 2011/141535, WO 2013/072239, WO 2013/072297, WO 2013/072326, WO 2015/044400. The capsule may be of the variety commercialised by Nespresso under the brand “Vertuo Line”, “Original Line” or “Professional Line”. Examples of ingredient processing units are described in WO 2007/135135, WO 2009/043630, WO 2011/042400, WO 2014/096122 and WO 2014/096123. The processing unit can be configured to process a capsule containing the beverage ingredient. The unit can have an ingredient chamber with at least one capsule opener, such as at least one of: one or more puncturing and/or tearing elements; and one or more pins and/or blades, such as a capsule piercer or tearing plate, e.g. as known from EP 0 512 468, EP 0 512 470, EP 1 299 022, EP 1 339 305, WO 2013/026845, WO 2014/076041, WO 2015/022342, WO 2015/022344 and WO 2015/022345. The machine may include a control unit for controlling at least one of the motor (when present) and electric machine components, such as a liquid driver, thermal conditioner, a user-interface. Examples of control units and user-interfaces are disclosed in WO 2008/138710, WO 2009/043851, WO 2009/043865, WO 2009/092745, WO 2010/003932, WO 2010/037806, WO 2010/046442, WO 2011/020779, WO 2011/026853, WO 2011/054889, WO 2011/067156, WO 2011/067157, WO 2011/067181, WO 2011/067188, WO 2011/067191, WO 2011/067227, WO 2011/067232, WO 2011/144719, WO 2012/032019, WO 2012/072761, WO 2012/072764, WO 2012/072767 and WO 2012/093107. When reference is made in the present description to an orientation or position relative to the machine or parts thereof, e.g. “above” or “below” or “vertical” or “horizontal”, the orientation or position takes as a reference the position and orientation of the machine in operation to process the liquid food substance in the food cavity unless specified otherwise. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 illustrates a beverage preparation machine according to the invention during beverage processing with a lower housing that contains part of a beverage processing unit and a beverage outlet, part of the housing being hidden to show the beverage outlet in the housing; - Figure 2 shows the beverage preparation machine illustrated in Fig. 1 when the beverage processing unit has a first and second part in the distant configuration; - Figure 3 shows an enlarged view from below of part of the housing and beverage outlet of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, no beverage being dispensed out of the beverage outlet in Fig. 3; - Figure 4 is a cross-section of the housing and beverage outlet shown in Fig. 3; - Figures 5 and 6 illustrate schematically from underneath two alternative embodiments of a bottom end and bottom dispensing opening of the beverage outlet; - Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part of the beverage outlet’s lower part with the bottom end and beverage bottom dispensing opening shown in Fig. 3; - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a beverage outlet with a collection cavity, a transfer channel and a bottom dispensing opening for a machine as shown in Fig 1; and - Figure 9 is a perspective view of another beverage outlet with a collection cavity, a transfer channel and a bottom dispensing edge for a machine as shown in Fig 1. Detailed description The following description in connection with the appended figures illustrates a non-limiting embodiment and variations thereof of a machine 1 for dispensing a beverage 100 according to the invention. Machine 1 includes a beverage processing unit 5 and a beverage outlet 10 in fluid communication with unit 5. Beverage outlet 10 is provided with a collection cavity 10a delimited by a bottom 10b and (a) sidewall(s) 10c which are configured to collect beverage 100 from beverage processing unit 5, such as a collection cavity 10a that is shaped substantially as a cup or a bathtub. Beverage outlet 10 may be configured to accumulate a pool of beverage 100 in collection cavity 10a. Beverage outlet 10 has a bottom dispensing opening (see e.g. Figs 5 to 8) or edge (see. e.g. Fig. 9) 14 configured to dispense beverage 100 from outlet 10 to an area 2 for placing a user-recipient 9 to collect such dispensed beverage 100. For example, user-recipient 9 is a cup or a mug. Beverage outlet 10 includes a beverage transfer channel 10a’ that fluidically connects collection cavity 10a to bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 and that is configured to guide beverage 100 between collection cavity 10a and bottom dispensing opening or edge 14. Beverage outlet 10 and/or processing unit 5 may be located at least partly in a stationary frame and/or housing 4. Beverage outlet 10 can be movable relative to stationary frame and/or housing 4 between a dispensing position in which beverage outlet 10 dispenses via bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 beverage 100 to area 2 and a non-dispensing position in which beverage outlet 10 prevents dispensing via bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 to area 2, e.g. beverage outlet 10 directing waste liquid towards a waste collector 3. Processing unit 5 may have a first part 53 and a second part 54 that are relatively movable between: - a proximate configuration in which they delimit a chamber 55 for containing and processing a beverage ingredient therein; and - a distant configuration for receiving in chamber 55 and/or evacuating from chamber 55 such ingredient. Beverage transfer channel 10a’ extends along a direction of flow F in the channel from collection cavity 10a around at least part of sidewall 10c of collection cavity 10a to bottom dispensing opening or edge 14. Cavity 10a may have: a maximum width; a maximum length that is greater than the maximum width; and a maximum depth. Beverage transfer channel 10a’ may have a length along direction of flow F from collection cavity 10a to bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 that is greater than the maximum width and/or the maximum length of the cavity 10a. Beverage transfer channel 10a’ may extend along a direction of flow F from collection cavity 10a around at least 20% of a total length of the sidewall 10c, such as at least 25% of the sidewall length, for example at least 30% of the sidewall length, e.g. at least 40% of the sidewall length. Sidewall(s) 10c can surround collection cavity 10a to extend from one side 10a’’ to an opposite side 10a’’’ of transfer channel 10a’. Beverage transfer channel 10a’ may have one side that is substantially delimited by cavity sidewall(s) 10c which extend(s) between collection cavity 10a and transfer channel 10a’. Beverage transfer channel 10a’ and collection cavity 10a can be connected by a passage 10a’’,10a’’’ having a width perpendicular to direction of flow F that is equal to a corresponding width of transfer channel 10a’ or that is narrower than such transfer channel width to slow down a flow of beverage 100 out of cavity 10a and/or prevent a flow of large beverage bubbles out of cavity 10a. Beverage transfer channel 10a’ in a beverage preparation orientation may have an outlet conduit 11 that extends along an upright flow direction 12, e.g. a direction at an angle in the range of 75 to 90 deg. to the horizontal such as 85 to 90 deg., and having a lower conduit part 11a with a bottom end 13, bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 being located at bottom end 13. Above its bottom end 13, lower conduit part 11a can have a single lateral dispensing opening 14a that is configured to dispense beverage 100 above bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 from lower conduit part 11a to area 2 for placing a user-recipient 9 when bottom dispensing opening or edge 14 is partly or fully obstructed at bottom end 13. Lateral dispensing opening 14 can be configured so as to: A) extend, e.g. substantially upstream, from bottom dispensing opening or edge 14, e.g. forming a continuous beverage passage 14,14a therewith; B) form an elongated opening extending along flow direction 12; C) form an opening that extends sideways about a central axis 12’ of lower conduit part 11a over an angle A of less than 180 deg., such in the range of 5 to 165 deg., for instance in the range of 15 to 150 deg., for example in the range of 45 to 135 deg., e.g. in the range of 60 to 120 deg. or 75 to 105 deg., optionally central axis 12’ being parallel or colinear with flow direction 12; D) have a total outflow surface area that is greater than 50% of a total outflow surface area of bottom dispensing opening or edge 14, typically in the range of 50 to 300% of the total outflow surface area of bottom dispensing opening or edge 14, optionally in the range of 75 to 200% thereof, such as in the range of 85 to 150% thereof, e.g. in the range of 90 to 125% thereof; or E) a combination of two or more of features A) to D). Lower conduit part 11a can be associated with an inner flow guide 15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’. Inner flow guide 15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’ may be configured so as to: A) extend above bottom end 13 inside conduit bottom part 11a and optionally thereabove, for instance in parallel to the flow direction (see e.g. Figs 7 and 8); B) extend below bottom end 13 outside conduit bottom part 11a, for instance in parallel to the flow direction (see e.g. Fig. 7); C) comprise one or more guide members 15a,15a’,15b,15b’, 15c,15c’,15d,15d’ that extend across at least part of bottom end 13, optionally single lateral dispensing opening 14a having one side or two opposite sides delimited by guide member(s) 15a,15a’,15d,15d’ (see e.g. Figs 5 to 8); or D) a combination of two or all of features A) to C). Guide member(s) 15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’ may be configured so as to: A) be shaped substantially as ribs or bars or upright walls (see e.g. Figs 7 and 8); B) be connected at a central part of bottom end 13, optionally the guide members 15a,15b,15c,15d being connected to a central beverage guide pin 16 extending downstream guide members 15a,15b,15c,15d (see e.g. Fig. 7) or the beverage outlet being free of such pin (see e.g. Fig. 5); C) be spaced apart from a central part of the bottom end 13 (see e.g. Fig. 6), optionally the guide members being spaced apart from a central beverage guide pin extending downstream the guide members or the beverage outlet being free of such pin; D) be non-intercepting each other, such as substantially parallel to one another (see e.g. Fig. 8); E) extend substantially radially relative to central axis 12’ of lower conduit part 11a (see e.g. Figs 5 and 7); or F) a combination of two or more of features A) to E). Beverage processing unit 5 can have a beverage guide 50 and a guide outflow opening 51 via which beverage 100 is passed to beverage outlet 10 from beverage guide 50. Beverage outlet 10 may have an inflow penetrator 12, such as an inflow-exposed protuberance 12, for penetrating a flow of beverage 100 delivered by unit outflow opening 51 onto penetrator 12 prior to reaching bottom 10b of flow cavity 10a. Inflow penetrator 12 may include an upright generally spear-shaped member, such as a member having a cross-section that has the shape of a cross or star or circle or convex polygon. Inflow penetrator 12 can have a top 121, such as a tapered top, that extends into the unit outflow opening 51, e.g. over a length in the range of 0.01 to 7 mm such as 0.3 to 3 mm, or that is spaced under unit outflow opening 51 by a distance in the range of 0.01 to 5 mm such as 0.3 to 3 mm. Inflow penetrator 12 may comprise a tapered top 121, e.g. a tapered top extending over a length in the range of 1 to 7 mm such as 2 to 5 mm, that extends from a cylindrical or prismatic penetrator bottom 122, e.g. a bottom extending over a length in the range of 1 to 15 mm such as 3 to 7 mm, optionally penetrator bottom 122 and tapered top 121 having a length ratio in the range of 1.5 to 7 such as 2 to 5, e.g. 2.5 to 4. Beverage processing unit 5 may be configured to supply to beverage outlet 10 a beverage, e.g. coffee typically prepared by centrifugation or pressure extraction, that comprises at least one of foam, crema, a sweetener and oil. Beverage processing unit 5 can be configured to be fed with a liquid, e.g. water, supplied via a machine fluid line from a liquid source, e.g. a machine tank 6 or connector to an external liquid supply line, for instance via a machine pump and/or a thermal conditioner, e.g. a heater and/or cooler. Beverage processing unit 5 may be configured to be fed with a flavouring ingredient, e.g. supplied into beverage processing unit 5 for instance within a capsule or loosely or as an agglomerate or in bulk, e.g. supplied as a particulate ingredient.

Claims

Claims 1. A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (100) comprises a beverage processing unit (5) and a beverage outlet (10) in fluid communication with the unit (5), the beverage outlet (10) having: - a collection cavity (10a) delimited by a bottom (10b) and (a) sidewall(s) (10c) which are configured to collect beverage (100) from the beverage processing unit (5), such as a collection cavity (10a) that is shaped substantially as a cup or a bathtub, optionally the beverage outlet (10) being configured to accumulate a pool of beverage (100) in the collection cavity (10a); - a bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) configured to dispense beverage (100) from the outlet (10) to an area (2) for placing a user-recipient (9), e.g. a cup or a mug, to collect such dispensed beverage (100); and - a beverage transfer channel (10a’) that fluidically connects the collection cavity (10a) to the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) and that is configured to guide beverage (100) between the collection cavity (10a) and the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14), optionally the beverage outlet (10) and/or the processing unit (5) being located at least partly in a stationary frame and/or housing (4), for instance: - the beverage outlet (10) being movable relative to the stationary frame and/or housing (4) between a dispensing position in which the beverage outlet (10) dispenses via the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) said beverage (100) to said area (2) and a non- dispensing position in which the beverage outlet (10) prevents dispensing via the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) to said area (2), e.g. the beverage outlet (10) directing waste liquid towards a waste collector (3); and/or - the processing unit (5) having a first part (53) and a second part (54) that are relatively movable between a proximate configuration in which they delimit a chamber (55) for containing and processing a beverage ingredient therein and a distant configuration for receiving in the chamber (55) and/or evacuating from the chamber (55) such ingredient, characterized in that the beverage transfer channel (10a’) extends along a direction of flow (F) in the channel (10a’) from the collection cavity (10a) around at least part of the sidewall (10c) of the collection cavity (10a) to the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14).

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the cavity (10a) has: - a maximum width; - a maximum length that is greater than the maximum width; and - a maximum depth, the beverage transfer channel (10a’) having a length along the direction of flow (F) from the collection cavity (10a) to the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) that is greater than the maximum width and/or the maximum length of the cavity (10a).

3. The machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the beverage transfer channel (10a’) extends along a direction of flow (F) from the collection cavity (10a) around at least 20% of a total length of the sidewall (10c), such as at least 25% of the sidewall length, for example at least 30% of the sidewall length, e.g. at least 40% of the sidewall length.

4. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the sidewall(s) (10c) surround the collection cavity (10a) to extend from one side (10a’’) to an opposite side (10a’’’) of the transfer channel (10a’).

5. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage transfer channel (10a’) has one side that is substantially delimited by the cavity sidewall(s) (10c) which extend(s) between the collection cavity (10a) and the transfer channel (10a’).

6. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage transfer channel (10a’) and the collection cavity (10a) are connected by a passage (10a’’,10a’’’) having a width perpendicular to the direction of flow (F) that is equal to a corresponding width of the transfer channel (10a’) or that is narrower than such transfer channel width to slow down a flow of beverage (100) out of the cavity (10a) and/or prevent a flow of large beverage bubbles out of the cavity (10a).

7. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage transfer channel (10a’) in a beverage preparation orientation has an outlet conduit (11) that extends along an upright flow direction (12), e.g. a direction at an angle in the range of 75 to 90 deg. to the horizontal such as 85 to 90 deg., and having a lower conduit part (11a) with a bottom end (13), the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) being located at the bottom end (13).

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein, above its bottom end (13), the lower conduit part (11a) has a single lateral dispensing opening (14a) that is configured to dispense beverage (100) above the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) from the lower conduit part (11a) to said area (2) for placing a user-recipient (9) when the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14) is partly or fully obstructed at the bottom end (13), optionally the lateral dispensing opening (14a) being configured so as to: A) extend, e.g. substantially upstream, from the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14), e.g. forming a continuous beverage passage (14,14a) therewith; B) form an elongated opening extending along the flow direction (12); C) form an opening that extends sideways about a central axis (12’) of the lower conduit part (11a) over an angle (A) of less than 180 deg., such in the range of 5 to 165 deg., for instance in the range of 15 to 150 deg., for example in the range of 45 to 135 deg., e.g. in the range of 60 to 120 deg. or 75 to 105 deg., optionally the central axis (12’) being parallel or colinear with the flow direction (12); D) have a total outflow surface area that is greater than 50% of a total outflow surface area of the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14), typically in the range of 50 to 300% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom dispensing opening or edge (14), optionally in the range of 75 to 200% thereof, such as in the range of 85 to 150% thereof, e.g. in the range of 90 to 125% thereof; or E) a combination of two or more of features A) to D).

9. The machine of claim 7 or 8, wherein the lower conduit part (11a) is associated with an inner flow guide (15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’), optionally the inner flow guide (15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’) being configured so as to: A) extend above the bottom end (13) inside the conduit bottom part (11a) and optionally thereabove, for instance in parallel to the flow direction; B) extend below the bottom end (13) outside the conduit bottom part (11a), for instance in parallel to the flow direction; C) comprise one or more guide members (15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’) that extend across at least part of the bottom end (13), optionally said single lateral dispensing opening (14a) having one side or two opposite sides delimited by such guide member(s) (15a,15a’,15d,15d’); or D) a combination of two or all of features A) to C).

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein said guide member(s) (15a,15a’,15b,15b’,15c,15c’,15d,15d’) is/are configured so as to: A) be shaped substantially as ribs or bars or upright walls; B) be connected at a central part of the bottom end (13), optionally the guide members (15a,15b,15c,15d) being connected to a central beverage guide pin (16) extending downstream the guide members (15a,15b,15c,15d) or the beverage outlet being free of such pin; C) be spaced apart from a central part of the bottom end (13), optionally the guide members being spaced apart from a central beverage guide pin extending downstream the guide members or the beverage outlet being free of such pin; D) be non-intercepting each other, such as substantially parallel to one another; E) extend substantially radially relative to a or said central axis (12’) of the lower conduit part (11a); or F) a combination of two or more of features A) to E).

11. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage processing unit (5) has a beverage guide (50) and a guide outflow opening (51) via which beverage (100) is passed to the beverage outlet (10) from the beverage guide (50).

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the beverage outlet (10) has an inflow penetrator (12), such as an inflow- exposed protuberance (12), for penetrating a flow of beverage (100) delivered by the unit outflow opening (51) onto the penetrator (12) prior to reaching the bottom (10b) of the flow cavity (10a).

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the inflow penetrator (12) has one or more of the following features: - an upright generally spear-shaped member, such as a member having a cross-section that has the shape of a cross or star or circle or convex polygon; - a top (121), such as a tapered top, that extends into the unit outflow opening (51), e.g. over a length in the range of 0.01 to 7 mm such as 0.3 to 3 mm, or that is spaced under the unit outflow opening (51) by a distance in the range of 0.01 to 5 mm such as 0.3 to 3 mm; and - a tapered top (121), e.g. a tapered top extending over a length in the range of 1 to 7 mm such as 2 to 5 mm, that extends from a cylindrical or prismatic penetrator bottom (122), e.g. a bottom extending over a length in the range of 1 to 15 mm such as 3 to 7 mm, optionally the penetrator bottom (122) and the tapered top (121) having a length ratio in the range of 1.5 to 7 such as 2 to 5, e.g. 2.5 to 4.

14. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage processing unit (5) is configured to supply to the beverage outlet (10) a beverage, e.g. coffee typically prepared by centrifugation or pressure extraction, that comprises at least one of foam, crema, a sweetener and oil.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the beverage processing unit (5) is configured to be fed with: - a liquid, e.g. water, supplied via a machine fluid line from a liquid source, e.g. a machine tank (6) or connector to an external liquid supply line, for instance via a machine pump and/or a thermal conditioner, e.g. a heater and/or cooler; and/or - a flavouring ingredient, e.g. supplied into the beverage processing unit (5) for instance within a capsule or loosely or as an agglomerate or in bulk, e.g. supplied as a particulate ingredient.