Patent ID: 8359968

Claim:
A drink preparing machine comprising: a tank; a water supply system comprising at least a section for heated water and a section for unheated water; a pump for conveying water from the tank through the supply system as far as a module for preparing the drink; and a valve device arranged so as to control the selective opening and closing of the supply system sections; wherein the valve device is a peristaltic system comprising a first tube in fluid association with the heated section water, a second tube in fluid association with the unheated section water, and compression means compressing a tube of each supply system section and acting under the effect of elastic return means comprising a spring; wherein the tubes are arranged to assume a neutral position, or a selective closed-off/open positions comprising a closed-off position of one tube and an open position of the other tube, with the compression means engaging the two tubes with sufficient return tension to keep both tubes simultaneously closed when in the neutral position; and with the compression means selectively providing a greater tension on one of the tubes so as to close off that tube and at least partially open the other tube when the tubes are in the selective closed off/open position.