cabeça de distribuição para uma máquina para preparação de bebida, máquina e sistema para preparação de bebida, cartucho para uso em uma máquina para preparação de bebida, e, método para dispensar uma bebida de um cartucho

A cartridge (70) for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising: a delivery head (3), an upwardly directed inlet (123) for supplying water to the cartridge received in the delivery head, a downwardly directed outlet (124) for outflow of beverage, and a barcode reader (120) having a barcode reader window (84) through which signals may be transmitted. An inlet (71a) and an outlet (72b) of the cartridge (70) are arranged to communicate respectively with the inlet (123) and outlet (124) of the delivery head (3) of the beverage preparation machine when the cartridge is inserted into the machine such that, in use, water from the inlet of the delivery head passes upwardly through the inlet of the cartridge and such that beverage produced from the water and the one or more beverage ingredients passes downwardly through the outlet of the cartridge to flow out of the outlet of the delivery head. The cartridge is associated with a barcode (72) which, in use, is readable by the barcode reader (120) of the beverage preparation machine for controlling operation of the beverage preparation machine. The barcode (72), cartridge inlet (72a), and cartridge outlet (72b) are located in a line with the outlet being intermediate the inlet and the barcode.