Patent ID: 7513412
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks at the choice of a user from cartridges specific to each drink that are inserted by the user in the apparatus, in particular of the type in which a cartridge having at least one face is provided with an optical code on one of said at least one face identifying the cartridge and the corresponding drink, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge path, extending between an insertion mouth for a new cartridge and a discharge mouth for a used cartridge, a reading station of the optical code of the inserted cartridge, said reading station being arranged in the cartridge path, a reading window facing the reading station, a reader acting on the reading station through the reading window, for reading the code of the cartridge in the reading station, a controller, connected to said reader, for the activation of an operating cycle for the preparation of the drink corresponding to the cartridge, and a positioning arrangement of the cartridge in the reading station, wherein said positioning arrangement comprises:  said positioning arrangement of the cartridge configured to press the cartridge on the abutment plane, with the optical code arranged facing the reading window and with said at least one stretching member acting with a thrust on the face of the cartridge, to deform the portion of face of the cartridge containing the code, extending the portion of face of the cartridge substantially uniformly and arranging the portion of face of the cartridge in a predetermined position, facing said reading window.