METHODS OF PREPARING A FOOD PRODUCT FROM A CARTRIDGE

• US 20070104837A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA), Symatese Co.
• Original Assignee: Symatese Co.
• Inventors: Masek, Petr, Yoakim, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,569,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/77
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0647 with means to adjust the brewing chamber volume to accommodate different quantities of brewing material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement

Abstract

Percolating device, for example intended to equip a coffee machine, comprising a percolating chamber mounted in such a way that it can carry out a displacement in the vertical direction when a control handle is operated. A cap receiving a capsule of product to be infused is also displaced, when the handle is operated, towards the inside of the percolating chamber. A percolating head sliding freely inside the percolating chamber can occupy different relative positions inside the percolating chamber according to the size of the capsule loaded into the cap. A stop device makes it possible to lock the percolating head in a definite position in order to inject steam and/or water through the percolating head.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method of preparing a food product from a cartridge, comprising:

closing a percolating assembly about a cartridge having first or second dimensions;

displacing a percolating head of the percolating assembly by action of the cartridge to configure a percolating chamber according to the dimensions of the cartridge;

feeding a fluid into the cartridge; and

outletting a mixture of the fluid and a substance from the cartridge to prepare a food product.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the food product is a beverage.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising stopping the percolating head at a first or second position for configuring the percolation chamber.

23. A method of preparing a food product from a capsule, comprising:

closing a percolating assembly about a capsule having first or second dimensions;

displacing a percolating head of the percolating assembly by action of the capsule to configure a percolating chamber according to the dimensions of the capsule, wherein a recessed portion of the percolating head substantially defines the percolating chamber when the percolating head is in a first position for containing a capsule having the first dimension, and wherein the recessed portion of the percolating head and part of a holding portion of the percolating head substantially define the percolating chamber when the percolating head is in a second position for containing a capsule having the second dimension;

feeding a fluid into the cartridge; and

outletting a mixture of the fluid and a substance from the cartridge to prepare a food product.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the food product is a beverage.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the cartridge having the first dimension comprises a dose of a substance to mix with the fluid to prepare a food product.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the cartridge having the second dimension has about between 1.5 and 3 doses of a substance to mix with the fluid to prepare a food product.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the percolating head is movable axially within the holding portion between the first and second positions.

28. A method of preparing a food product from a cartridge having variable dimensions, comprising:

closing a percolating assembly about a cartridge having a predetermined capacity;

dispensing a percolating head of the percolating assembly by action of the cartridge to configure a percolating chamber according to the dimensions of the cartridge, wherein the percolating head slides axially inside the percolating chamber and has a recess shaped to correspond to the shape of the cartridge such that when the cartridge is larger than the recess, the percolating head is pushed upwardly;

feeding a fluid into the cartridge; and

outletting a mixture of the fluid and a substance from the cartridge to prepare a food product.

29. A method of preparing a food product from a capsule, comprising:

closing a percolating assembly about a capsule having first or second dimensions;

displacing a percolating head of the percolating assembly by action of the cartridge to configure a percolating chamber according to the dimensions of the cartridge;

injecting a fluid into the capsule;

opening the capsule in the percolating chamber to release the mixture; and

extracting a mixture of the fluid and a substance from the capsule to prepare a food product.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein a recessed portion of the percolating head substantially defines the percolating chamber when the percolating head is in a first position for containing a capsule having the first dimension, and wherein the recessed portion of the percolating head and part of a holding portion of the percolating head substantially define the percolating chamber when the percolating head is in a second position for containing a capsule having the second dimension.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the cartridge having the first dimension comprises a dose of a substance to mix with the fluid to prepare a food product.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the cartridge having the second dimension has about between 1.5 and 3 doses of a substance to mix with the fluid to prepare a food product.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the food product is a beverage.