Beverage machine with an ergonomic service unit

1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:

an extraction unit having a capsule chamber and an outlet and an actuator, the capsule chamber configured for housing an ingredient capsule while extracted to form a beverage, the outlet configured for dispensing the formed beverage, and the actuator configured to:

open the capsule chamber for removing the capsule from the capsule chamber after extraction;

close the capsule chamber for extracting the capsule in the capsule chamber;

a service unit located under the extraction unit and forming a receptacle having a collection cavity with an opening for collecting via the opening the capsule and residual liquid projections from the capsule chamber when opened to remove the capsule, the service unit having an upright wall defining an outside face that is accessible from outside the machine, the upright wall defining at least one though-passage for favoring air circulation from inside the collection cavity to outside the machine, the though-passage extending from the collection cavity to the outside of the machine; and

a foot for being placed on an external horizontal placement surface so that the machine extends upwardly above the foot in an operative position for delivering the beverage via the outlet; and

the machine in the operative position on the external horizontal placement surface establishes a position of the at least one through-passage having a vertical cross-section along the through-passage;

wherein the vertical cross-section of the at least one through-passage along the at least one through-passage defines at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: (i) a middle axis sloping upwards along the at least one through-passage from the collection cavity to the outside of the machine and (ii) a bottom delimitation line with a highest end and a top delimitation line with a lowest end, the highest end and the lowest end defining a straight axis sloping from the collection cavity to the outside of the machine, the straight axis sloping upwards by an angle relative to the external horizontal placement surface of less than 90 degrees or downwards by an angle relative to the external horizontal placement surface of less than 50 degrees;

whereby the residual liquid projecting from the capsule chamber, when opened to remove the capsule, is inhibited from projecting through the at least one through-passage to the outside of said machine via the upright wall.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through-passage is in a form selected from the group consisting of: a straight passage; a curved passage, a partly curved passage; and a broken passage.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the upright wall has an internal face defining the cavity, the at least one through-passage having an external opening on the outside face and an internal opening on the internal face.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through-passage forms a circular or regular polygonal opening in a cross-section parallel to the outside face.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one through-passage forms a slit extending substantially across the upright wall.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the upright wall defining a plurality of passages.

7. The machine of claim 6 , wherein the passages are in a regular matrix or mesh arrangement over substantially the entire outside face.

8. The machine of claim 6 , wherein the passages are in a single linear arrangement over the outside face.

9. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is user-viable through the upright wall for monitoring a level of fill of the cavity.

10. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the service unit has a bottom defining a plurality of bottom through-passages configured for allowing a passage to a dampening or retaining chamber of liquid projections from the chamber when opened to remove the capsule and inhibit deflection on the bottom of the liquid to project to outside the machine via the upright wall.

11. The machine of claim 1 , comprising a seat and wherein the service unit is housed in the seat and removable therefrom for servicing.

12. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the extraction unit has a first part defining the capsule chamber and a second part for closing and opening the capsule chamber, the first and second parts being relatively movable by the actuator for closing and then opening the capsule chamber.

13. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor and/or a handle.

14. The machine of claim 1 , which has at least one cup support for supporting a recipient, the cup support comprising a stationary structure or a structure that is movable between an active deployed position for supporting a short recipient under the outlet or an inactive retracted position for placing a tall recipient under the outlet.

15. The machine of claim 1 comprising a tank.

16. The machine of claim 1 wherein the vertical cross-section of the at least one through-passage, in the position of the at least one through-passage that is established by the machine in the operative position on the external horizontal placement surface, defines both (i) a middle axis sloping upwards along the at least one through-passage from the collection cavity to the outside of the machine and (ii) a bottom delimitation line with a highest end and a top delimitation line with a lowest end, the highest end and the lowest end defining a straight axis sloping from the collection cavity to the outside of the machine, the straight axis sloping upwards by an angle relative to the external horizontal placement surface of less than 90 degrees; or downwards by an angle relative to the external horizontal placement surface of less than 50 degrees.