Cartridge for a beverage or food substrate

• US 10,407,291 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freezio AG
• Original Assignee: Freezio AG
• Inventors: Kruger, Marc, Empl, Gunter, Fischer, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Carroll, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US16/069,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20190023552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 2221456
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/39 Dry compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/52 Adding ingredients adding preservatives A23L2/44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/54 Mixing with gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3695 Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4425 Supports for beverage containers when filled or while being filled supports allowing to adapt the beverage making apparatus to the size of the beverage container A47J31/4482
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/223 the outer closure having to be removed or inverted for piercing or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/226 the piercing or cutting means being non integral with, or not fixedly attached to, the outer closure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2835 ruptured by a sharp element, e.g. a cutter or a piercer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8043 Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8055 Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0046 Mixing chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0078 Ingredient cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0079 having their own dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/04 : Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/045 : using elastic bags and pistons actuated by air or other gas
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0091 : Component storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 : provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0812 : Bottles, cartridges or similar containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0012 : provided with mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0019 : using ingredient cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0227 : by an ejection plunger B67D7/0238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0233 : the plunger being gas driven

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge comprising a wall region, to one end of which a connection region is connected, which is closed particularly with a membrane, and on the opposite end of which optionally a bottom region is provided, the wall region and optionally the bottom region containing a cavity which receives a beverage and/or food substrate.

Claims

1. A cartridge having:

a wall region;

a connecting region adjoined to one end of the wall region and which is closed by a membrane;

optionally a bottom region is provided at an opposite end of the wall region;

wherein the wall region, and optionally the bottom region, define a cavity which accommodates a beverage substrate, a foodstuff substrate, or both the beverage substrate and the foodstuff substrate;

wherein the connecting region has at least one flange which is provided with a positioning means;

wherein the positioning means comprises a rectilinear circumferential region of the at least one flange;

wherein a circumference of the flange is formed in a curved manner away from the rectilinear circumferential region; and

wherein a neck is provided between the wall region and the connecting region.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an edge extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge is formed in each transition region between the rectilinear circumferential region and a curved circumferential region.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is provided on the flange.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a fastening means is provided in the wall region, in a region of the neck, or both.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge has two flanges which are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge, and

wherein only one of the two flanges or both flanges have the positioning means.

6. A system having:

the cartridge according to claim 1, and

a cartridge receptacle which is provided in the connecting region of the cartridge.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge receptacle has:

a piercing means which perforates the membrane;

a diluent inflow;

a mixing chamber in which the beverage substrate, the foodstuff substrate, or both the beverage substrate and the foodstuff substrate is mixed with a diluent; and

a beverage and/or foodstuff outflow.

8. The system according claim 7, wherein the diluent is water.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the diluent inflow and the beverage and/or foodstuff outflow are provided at opposite ends of the cartridge receptacle.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the piercing means is provided in a manner aligned with the diluent inflow and the beverage and/or foodstuff outflow.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein with regard to a direction of flow of the diluent, a flow cross section of the mixing chamber first expands and then narrows again.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein a covering means covers the beverage and/or foodstuff outflow of the cartridge receptacle.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a spike guide, and wherein the piercing means is mounted in a displaceable manner within the spike guide;

wherein the piercing means is displaceable between a retracted position, in which the piercing means is away from the membrane, and an extended position, in which the piercing means pierces the membrane and projects into the cartridge.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein at least one lateral channel for conveying the beverage substrate, the foodstuff substrate, or both the beverage substrate and the foodstuff substrate in a direction of the mixing chamber when the membrane is pierced by the piercing means has been introduced into an outer wall of the piercing means.

15. The system according to claim 7, wherein a compressed-air line is integrated into the piercing means;

and

wherein a compressed-air connection of the compressed-air line configured to connect to a compressed-air source is formed on a side of the piercing means that is remote from the cartridge;

wherein the compressed-air connection is accessible from outside the cartridge receptacle; and

wherein a compressed-air outlet of the compressed-air line for blowing the compressed air into the cartridge is formed on a side of the piercing means that faces the cartridge.

16. The system according to claim 6, wherein the flange cooperates in a sealing manner with the cartridge receptacle.

17. The system according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge and the cartridge receptacle are connected together in a rotationally fixed manner.