System for Preparing Portions of a Beverage Suitable for Consumption

• US 20080105130A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brouwer, Gustaaf Frans, Koeling, Hendrik Cornelis
• Granted Patent: US 9,585,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0078 Ingredient cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1272 preventing froth
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0812 Bottles, cartridges or similar containers

Abstract

A system for preparing portions of a beverage suitable for consumption, comprising an apparatus for preparing the beverage and a closed and form-retaining holder removably received in the holder, which holder is at least filled with a product to be dissolved and/or to be diluted such as a concentrate. The apparatus is provided with a liquid device for dispensing under pressure a fluid comprising a liquid such as water and, optionally, a gas such as steam or air, a receiving space in which the holder is received and at least one probe provided with at least one channel which, on the one side, is in fluid communication with the liquid device and which, on the other side, terminates in at least one outflow opening of the probe. The apparatus is designed for puncturing the wall on a first side and for moving the probe and the holder relative to each other such that the probe, in use, can be inserted through the first side of the holder whereupon the at least one outflow opening reaches into the holder.

Claims

1. A system for preparing portions of a beverage suitable for consumption, comprising an apparatus for preparing the beverage and a closed and form-retaining holder removably received in the apparatus, which holder is at least filled with a product to be dissolved and/or to be diluted such as a concentrate, the apparatus being provided with a Liquid device for dispensing a fluid under pressure, comprising at least one liquid such as water and, optionally, a gas such as steam or air, a receiving space in which the holder is received and at least one probe provided with at least one channel which, on the one side, is in fluid communication with the liquid device and which, on the other side, terminates in at least one outflow opening of the probe, one wall of the holder being manufactured from a fluid-tight material such as a plastic and/or a metal, while, on a first side of the holder, the wall is manufactured such that it can be punctured, the apparatus being designed for puncturing the wall on the first side and for moving the probe and the holder relative to each other so that in use, the probe can pierce through the first side of the holder, whereupon the at least one outflow opening reaches into the holder, the system being further provided with opening means for obtaining, in use, an outlet opening at the holder for dispensing the ready beverage while, in use, the fluid is supplied by the liquid device to the at least one channel for generating at least one jet of the fluid from the at least one outflow opening of the probe in the holder for dissolving and/or diluting the product whereupon the ready beverage flows from the at least one outlet opening, characterized in that the apparatus is further provided with control means, while apparatus is further designed to set, under control of the control means, at least one setting of the jet in a predetermined manner, as desired from a plurality of setting possibilities for determining, in advance, characteristic properties of the ready beverage such as, for instance, the amount of froth that is obtained with the ready beverage by impact of the jet on an inside of the holder and/or on the product and/or on the fluid previously supplied to the holder, the at least one setting of the jet comprising the direction of the at least one jet, the position of the at least one jet, the flow rate of the at least one jet, the flow velocity of the at least one jet and/or the number of the jets.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is designed to set, under control of the control means, the position of the probe within the holder at wish from a plurality of setting possibilities, for setting the direction of the at least one jet in the predetermined manner.

3. A system according to claim 1, an that wherein the probe is provided with at least one second outflow opening, while the apparatus is designed to generate, under control of the control means, in a settable manner, with the aid of the first outflow opening, a first jet of the fluid in the holder and/or to generate, with the aid or the second outflow opening a second jet of the fluid.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the probe is designed to close off or release, under the control of the control means, the first outflow opening in a settable manner and to close off or release the second outflow opening in a settable manner.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the probe is provided with a first channel which is connected on the one side to the liquid device and terminates on the other side in the first outflow opening and a second channel which is connected on the one side to the liquid device and terminates on the other side in the second outflow opening, while the apparatus is designed to supply, under control of the control means, in a settable manner, with the aid of the Liquid device, the fluid to the first channel and/or the second channel.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is designed to set the temperature of the fluid, under control of the control means, at wish from a plurality of setting possibilities.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the system is designed to set, under control of the control means, the temperature of the fluid so that a warm, tepid or cold beverage is obtained.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is designed to set, under control of the control means, at wish from a plurality of setting possibilities, the amount of fluid which is dispensed for preparing a portion of the ready beverage.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the holder is provided with a code and the apparatus with a code reader connected to the control means for reading the code of the holder, while the control means are designed for providing at least one of said setting on the basis of the read-out code.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the code is determinative of the setting of the direction of the at least one jet, the position of the at least one jet, the flow rate of the at least one jet, the flow velocity of the at least one jet and/or the number of jets.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the code is determinative of the setting of the amount of froth with the ready beverage.

12. A system according to claims 8, wherein the code is determinative of the setting of the amount of fluid which is dispensed for preparing a portion of the ready beverage.

13. A system according to claims 6, herein the code is determinative of the setting of the temperature of the fluid.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the holder is punctured with the aid of the probe.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a moveable element for puncturing the holder under control of the control means before the probe can be inserted through the first side of the holder.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with opening means such as cutting or piercing means for cutting away or piercing, under control of the control means, a part of the holder for providing the outlet opening in the holder when the holder is located in the receiving space.

17. A system according to claims 9, wherein the control means activate the openings means for obtaining the outlet opening when, with the aid of the code reading means, the control means reads a code which corresponds to a code stored in the control unit.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving space and the holder are geared to each other such that the holder can be received in the receiving space on at least a predetermined position and preferably one predetermined position.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the wall of the holder is provided with a holder recess and/or a holder projection and a wall of the receiving space is provided with a receiving space projection reaching into the holder recess and/or a receiving space recess while the holder projection reaches into the receiving space recess.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein an upper side of the receiving space abuts virtually completely against the first side of the holder.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus is provided with a switch which is energized by the first side of the holder.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the control means are connected to the switch while the control means ensure that the liquid device is not activated when the switch is not energized.

23. A system according to claim 20, in use, the outflow opening of the probe is situated adjacent the first side in the holder.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is situated on a second side of the holder opposite the first side.

25. A system according to any one of claim 9, wherein the code of the holder is formed by a specific external form of the holder while the code reader is designed for recognizing this external form.

26. A system according to any one of claim 9, wherein the code of the holder is formed by an electromagnetic responder, while the code reader is designed for reading out the electromagnetic responder.

27. A system according to claim 1, wherein the holder is provided with a valve, while the apparatus is provided with energizing means for, in use and preferably under control of the control means, opening the valve for obtaining the outlet opening in the holder.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the valve is a valve which is normally closed, which closes again when the energizing means are deactivated.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the valve comprises a duck-valve while the energizing means are provided with pressure means for, in use, compressing the duck-valve for obtaining the outlet opening.

30. A system according to claim 1, wherein that the control means are provided with a microprocessor.

31. A system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening formed provides a free passage so that the beverage can flow from the holder under the influence of gravity when the outlet opening has been provided.

32. A system according to claim 1, wherein under control of the control means, the at least one jet is directed towards a bottom of the holder or is directed towards a sidewall of the holder.

33. A system according to claim 3, wherein the first jet and the second jet have mutually different directions.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the first jet is directed towards a sidewall of the holder and strikes the sidewall and that the second jet is directed towards a bottom of the holder and, in use, directly strikes the product.

35. A system according to claim 33, wherein the second jet is directed downwards at least virtually vertically and that the first jet comprises a speed component in horizontal direction towards the sidewall and a speed component in vertical direction to the bottom.

36. A system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further designed to MIST EEN WERKWOORD in reaction to a control signal from the control means the direction of the at least one jet, the position of the at least one jet, the flow rate of the at least one jet, the flow velocity of the at least one jet and/or the number of jets

37. An apparatus of the system according to claim 1.

38. A holder of the system according to claim 1.