SYSTEM FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE FROM INGREDIENTS SUPPORTED BY AN ENCODED INSERT

• US 20100263546A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Kugler, Ralph, Leuzinger, Roman, Talon, Christian, Denisart, Jean-Luc, Bonacci, Enzo, Pleisch, HansPeter
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,544 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 31/3676 Cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3685 Brewing heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed
• 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

Abstract

The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (24) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (24), wherein said liquid is provided by a pump (70) of the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule-holder (30) providing the capsule (24) to a capsule-holder receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule (24) in the capsule-holder receiving chamber (25), at least one injection member (11) to supply a liquid received from the pump (70) to the inside of the capsule (24), a control unit (80) for controlling at least the pump (70) of the device, and decoding means (1) connected to the control unit (80) and designed to read information from the capsule-holder (30).

Claims

1. A device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule, wherein the liquid is supplied by a pump of the device, the device comprising:

an extraction head having an aperture for inserting a capsule-holder providing the capsule in a capsule-holder receiving chamber of the device;

a closing mechanism to selectively enclose the capsule in the capsule-holder receiving chamber;

at least one injection member to supply a liquid received from the pump to an inside of the capsule;

a control unit for controlling at least the pump of the device; and

decoding means connected to the control unit for reading information from the capsule-holder.

2. A device according to claim 1,

wherein the decoding means are designed to detect the presence of the capsule-holder.

3. A device according to claim 1,

wherein the decoding means are situated within the aperture for inserting the capsule-holder.

4. A device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit of the device is designed to enable an operation of the pump of the device depending on the information read by the decoding means.

5. A device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit of the device is designed to adjust at least one operational parameter of the device depending on the information read by the decoding means from the capsule-holder.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein interaction between the capsule-holder and the decoding means of the device is contactless.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule-holder and the decoding means of the device interact by a method selected from the group consisting of optically, magnetically and by contact.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the decoding means comprises a Reed sensor designed to detect a magnetic field.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein a transmitted code provided to the decoding means of the device by the capsule-holder is a programmable or non programmable code.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein a ferromagnetic material is provided within the aperture of the extraction head in order to attract a capsule-holder inserted into the aperture.

21. The insert according to claim 1, wherein

the insert comprises means for detecting and decoding information transmitted by an object received by the insert.

11. A system for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a single-use capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule, comprising:

a device and a capsule-holder comprising means for receiving a capsule;

the liquid is provided by a pump of the device, the device comprising;

an extraction head having an aperture for inserting a capsule in the capsule-holder receiving chamber of the device,

a closing mechanism to selectively enclose the capsule in the capsule-holder receiving chamber,

at least one injection member which supplies a liquid received from the pump to the inside of the capsule,

a control unit for controlling at least the pump of the device, and

decoding means connected to the control unit for reading information from the capsule-holder, wherein the control unit enables a liquid supply to the capsule-holder receiving chamber when no capsule-holder is in the device,

the system further comprises an insert comprising guiding means for engaging in the capsule-holder receiving chamber and encoding means for interacting with the decoding means provided at the device.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the insert is a capsule-holder or an ingredient-holder for receiving loose ingredients.

13. System according to claim 11, wherein the insert is adapted for altering the conditions of the supply of liquid from the injection member.

14. System according to claim 11, wherein the insert comprises means for achieving a feature selected from the group consisting of reducing the pressure of the supplied liquid and/or modifying the direction of the jet(s) of the supplied liquid.

15. An insert designed for insertion into a device for preparing a beverage from ingredients contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule, comprising:

a handle,

a base with a guiding member and,

encoding means for interaction with decoding means provided at the device the insert is designed to be inserted into.

16. The insert of claim 15,

wherein the insert comprises a capsule-holder comprising a holder in the base for receiving a capsule therein.

17. The insert according to claim 15,

wherein the encoding means of the insert are designed to interact via a magnetic field.

18. The insert according to claim 15, wherein the insert comprises at least one magnet attached to at least one face of the insert.

19. The insert according to claim 15,

wherein the encoding means of the insert are designed to interact optically.

20. The insert according to claim 17,

wherein the encoding means is a geometrical form of the insert.

22. The insert according to claim 15,

wherein the base comprises injection interface means for altering the injection conditions of the water injection member of the device.

23. The insert according to claim 15,

wherein the base comprises a through-passage designed to leave a free space for the injection member of the device.

24. A capsule-holder designed for insertion into an aperture of a device for preparing a beverage from ingredients contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule, comprising

a means for receiving a capsule,

and

a deflector deflecting a jet of liquid provided by the device which is positioned at the inner side of the means for receiving the capsule.

25. A capsule-holder according to claim 24,

wherein the deflector is designed to reflect a fluid jet that impacts on the inner surface of the means for receiving the capsule in a spray or fan.

26. A device for preparing a beverage contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule comprising:

an extraction head having an aperture for receiving a capsule holder comprising the capsule;

a closing mechanism to enclose the capsule in a chamber;

at least one injection member supplying a liquid received from the pump to the inside of the capsule;

a control unit for controlling at least the pump of the device; and

a decoder connected to the control unit and designed to read information from the capsule-holder.