INTEGRATED CARTRIDGE FOR EXTRACTING A BEVERAGE FROM A PARTICULATE SUBSTANCE

• US 20100043645A1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illy Caffe SpA
• Original Assignee: Illy Caffe SpA
• Inventors: MASTROPASQUA, LUCA, SUGGI LIVERANI, FURIO, DELLAPIETRA, BRUNO, VAN EEDEN, FRANS
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• 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: B65D 85/8055 Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A cartridge for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained therein by means of water under pressure is provided. The cartridge comprises a main body with a cup portion and a lid portion. The cup portion comprises a base, a sidewall and a rim opposed to the base, while the lid portion is fixedly attached to the rim of the cup portion so as to define an internal volume of the cartridge. The internal volume of the cartridge houses the particulate substance comprised within filtering means for retaining the particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough. The lid portion comprises a lid port defining a first passage for percolation fluid substances, the base of the cup portion comprising a cup port defining a second passage for percolation fluid substances. The cartridge further comprises a disc of porous material arranged between the filtering means and the base of the cup portion, so as to support the filtering means and the particulate substance and to define a fine canalization between the filtering means and the cup port.

Claims

1. A cartridge for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained therein by means of water under pressure, the cartridge comprising:

a main body comprising a cup portion and a lid portion, the cup portion comprising a base, a sidewall and a rim opposed to said base, the lid portion being fixedly attached to said rim of the cup portion so as to define an internal volume of said cartridge,

the internal volume of said cartridge housing the particulate substance comprised within filtering means for retaining said particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough,

said lid portion comprising a lid port defining a first passage for percolation fluid substances, the base of said cup portion comprising a cup port defining a second passage for percolation fluid substances,

further comprising a disc of porous material arranged between said filtering means and the base of said cup portion, so as to support said filtering means and said particulate substance and to define a fine canalization between said filtering means and said cup port.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cup port protrudes from the base of said cup portion outwardly with respect to said internal volume, so as to convey the extracted beverage into an external cup without contaminating any component of a beverage extraction machine

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said cup port or said lid port comprises fluid flow hurdles formed on its internal surface or mounted therein, for breaking direct fluid flow passing through said cup port or said lid port, respectively.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lid port protrudes from said lid portion and has a substantially cylindrical shape.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lid portion comprises a plurality of ridges directly formed on its inner side and protruding towards the internal volume of the cartridge, so as to support said filtering means and said particulate substance and to define a fine canalization between said filtering means and said lid port.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lid portion comprises sparse ribs directly formed on its inner side and protruding towards the internal volume of the cartridge, so as to create a small gap between said lid portion and said filtering means.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cup port comprises valve means resiliently openable under pressure of said percolation fluid substances so as to allow passage of said percolation fluid substances through said cup port.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said valve means comprise a pad or disc of a resilient material selected from the group comprising rubbers, elastomers, flexible plastics, said pad comprising a through slit that is normally closed, for insulating the internal volume of said cartridge from external environment and for retaining fluid residuals inside said internal volume when said beverage extraction has been terminated.

9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said pad or disc comprises surface ribs for supporting said particulate substance and said filtering means and for allowing fluid passage therebetween.

10. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said valve means comprise a shim mounted on said pad or disc, for supporting said particulate substance and said filtering means and for allowing fluid passage towards said slit.

11. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said valve means, in their opened condition, allow passage of said percolation fluid substances through at least a narrow orifice, for increasing formation and stability of crema in the beverage extracted from said cartridge when said particulate substance comprises ground coffee.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lid port comprises a rubber seal having a central pierceable portion and a peripheral thicker portion for providing a radial fluid-tight seal when cartridge is installed into a beverage extraction machine.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said main body has a substantially cylindrical shape and the cup base comprises a flange axially aligned with the sidewall of the cartridge and protruding outwardly with respect to the internal volume of the cartridge, so as to surround said cup port.

14. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein it is made of any material selected from the following:

thermoplastics, aluminum, rubber, polylaminate plastics, thermosetting compositions, and any combination thereof.

15. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said particulate substance is selected from the group comprising:

ground coffee, roasted ground coffee, instant coffee, tea, powdered chocolate, powdered milk, instant based brews, soups.

16. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the lid port or the cup port are of the female type, so as to be able to receive therein a water injection nozzle of a beverage extraction machine during a beverage extraction phase.

17. An extraction assembly to be mounted on beverage extraction machines, further comprising a support connectable to a water outlet of a beverage extraction machine and a cartridge holder securable to said support for holding a cartridge according to claim 1.

18. The extraction assembly of claim 17, wherein said cartridge holder has an internal shape substantially corresponding to the external shape of said cartridge so that said cartridge can tightly fit within said holder.