Beverage preparation machines

Abstract

A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packed cartridges of beverage ingredients. The cartridges may be designed so that air becomes entrained so as to produce a desired foam or crema. Air inlets are provided in an outlet nozzle to allow air to enter the beverage preparation machine and so be available for entrainment. Advantageously, the air inlets extend through the sides of the nozzle in an elevated position at a widened portion of the nozzle. This reduces the flow of beverage into and through the air inlets, aiding cleanliness.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A beverage preparation machine configured to prepare beverages from a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and to dispense a beverage through an outlet nozzle, the outlet nozzle comprising one or more sides defining a conduit between an entrance and an exit through which the beverage may pour down and further comprising one or more air passages, each of the one or more air passages extending through the one or more side walls of the nozzle to provide fluid communication between the conduit and atmosphere, wherein the conduit widens downstream of the entrance to form a wider portion and wherein each of the one or more air passages is located in an elevated position in the wider portion above the exit of the outlet nozzle, such that, in use, air is drawn into a head space around the flow of beverage through the conduit and is not entrained into the beverage flow;
 the beverage preparation machine further comprising a cartridge holder arranged to hold the cartridge and provided with a hole through which beverage exiting the cartridge may flow, the cartridge holder being positioned relative to the outlet nozzle such that the beverage flowing through the hole in the cartridge holder pours into the outlet nozzle; and 
 the beverage preparation machine further comprising a piercer positioned to pierce the underside of a cartridge when placed in the cartridge holder, the piercer having a hollow centre to form an outlet for beverage to exit the cartridge, and wherein the entrance to the hollow centre of the piercer forms the entrance to the outlet nozzle. 
 
     
     
       2. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a shoulder to define a narrower portion and the wider portion, and wherein each of the one of more air passages is located in the wider portion at the shoulder. 
     
     
       3. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air passages are paired, with each pair of air passages facing each other across the conduit. 
     
     
       4. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more air passages are equally spaced around the outlet nozzle. 
     
     
       5. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more air passages is located adjacent the entrance to the outlet nozzle. 
     
     
       6. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet nozzle comprises first and second parts that join together to form the conduit, and wherein the one or more air passages are formed at the joint between the first and second parts. 
     
     
       7. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 6 , wherein the first part is provided with a downwardly-extending rim and the second part is provided with an upwardly-extending rim, the two rims being sized such that one is received snugly within the other and being provided with interruptions that are aligned to form air passages through the joint. 
     
     
       8. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet nozzle comprises first and second parts that join together to form the conduit, with first part comprising the piercer on its topside and a downwardly-extending rim on its underside with the hollow centre of the piercer extending from the topside to within the rim, and the second part comprising an upwardly-extending rim, the two rims being sized such that one is received snugly within the other and being provided with interruptions that are aligned to form air passages through the joint. 
     
     
       9. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 8 , wherein the hollow centre of the piercer extends through the first part with sides that curve outwardly to merge into the underside of the first part. 
     
     
       10. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein, the outlet nozzle is configured such that, in use, air is drawn into a head space around the flow of beverage through the conduit and is not entrained into the beverage flow within the outlet nozzle. 
     
     
       11. The beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air passages are in the wider portion above the exit and the wider portion extends to the exit. 
     
     
       12. A method of preparing beverages using the beverage preparation machine of  claim 1 , comprising causing the machine to dispense a beverage through the outlet nozzle such that substantially no beverage flows through the one or more air passages. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , comprising placing a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into the cartridge holder of the beverage preparation machine, causing the machine to prepare a beverage from the cartridge and to dispense the beverage so prepared through the outlet nozzle such that substantially no beverage flows through the one or more air passages.