US 12,433,445 B2
Cleaning apparatus for a beverage preparation machine
Christian Talon, Vufflens-le-Chateau (CH); and Christophe Sebastien Paul Heydel, Chez-le-Bart (CH)
Assigned to Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey (CH)
Appl. No. 17/756,768
Filed by SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A., Vevey (CH)
PCT Filed Dec. 1, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/084070
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 2, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/110654, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19213435 (EP), filed on Dec. 4, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0032667 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. A47J 31/60 (2006.01); A47J 31/36 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/60 (2013.01) [A47J 31/3628 (2013.01); A47J 31/3695 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning apparatus for a beverage preparation machine, the cleaning apparatus comprising at least one fluid processing device comprising a fluid processing body provided with an outflow portion for the outflow of a cleaning fluid, wherein the fluid processing body comprises the following members:
an inlet member for introducing a fluid substance into a container (C) for the preparation of a beverage product by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the container (C); and
an outlet member for allowing the outflow of the beverage product from the container (C) once the fluid substance is introduced into the container (C) and is mixed with the ingredient,
wherein the cleaning apparatus further comprises a cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning body comprising one or more movable elements defining a chamber for housing at least a portion of the fluid processing body; and
a movement member for moving the one or more movable elements between an active position and an inactive position,
and wherein the one or more movable elements and the fluid processing body are dimensioned and shaped such that:
in the active position, the one or more movable elements enclose at least a portion of the fluid processing body in the chamber, such that the cleaning fluid can circulate in a space between the fluid processing body and the one or more movable elements when the cleaning fluid is ejected from the outflow portion of the fluid processing body; and
in the inactive position, the one or more movable elements are moved away from the fluid processing body, such that the fluid processing body and the container (C) can be functionally connected together for the preparation of the beverage product and/or the outflow of the beverage product.