BEVERAGE FORMATION APPARATUS AND METHOD USING SONIC ENERGY

• US 20110151075A1
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/238
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/002 following a specific operational sequence, e.g. for improving the taste of the extraction product
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3623 Cartridges being employed with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

Apparatus and method for forming beverages using a beverage cartridge and sonic energy. A cartridge may include a sonic receiver, such as a feature that extends into an interior space of the cartridge and is arranged to receive a sonic emitter that introduces sonic energy into the interior space. The sonic receiver may be excited by sonic energy, which causes the sonic receiver to itself introduce sonic energy into the cartridge.

Claims

12. A beverage forming system, comprising:

a cartridge receiver arranged to hold a beverage cartridge;

a liquid inlet arranged to introduce liquid into the beverage cartridge;

a sonic emitter arranged to provide sonic energy to the beverage cartridge; and

a beverage cartridge, including;

a container having a closed interior space;

a beverage medium located in the interior space, the beverage medium being used to form a beverage by interaction of the beverage medium with a liquid introduced into the interior space; and

a sonic receiver associated with the container and arranged to transmit sonic energy from the sonic emitter located outside of the closed interior space into the interior space for interaction with the beverage medium.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sonic emitter includes a probe that is positioned at the sonic receiver which includes a depression in the container that extends into the interior space.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the container includes a cup with a top opening and a lid attached to the cup that closes the top opening.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the sonic receiver includes an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge that is excited by sonic energy.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a filter in the container arranged to filter at least part of a beverage formed by interaction of the beverage medium with liquid.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the filter is attached to the lid.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the sonic receiver is arranged to acoustically couple the interior space with the sonic emitter.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the sonic receiver includes a portion of the container arranged to be inserted into a recess of a sonic emitter.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the sonic receiver is substantially transparent to sonic energy emitted by the sonic emitter.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the sonic receiver is arranged at a sidewall of the container.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the sonic receiver includes a depression in the sidewall.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the liquid inlet is arranged to pierce the cartridge to introduce liquid into the cartridge.

24. A method of forming a beverage, comprising:

providing a beverage cartridge arranged for use in a beverage forming machine to make a beverage, the cartridge including a container having a closed interior space and a beverage medium located in the interior space;

introducing liquid into the closed interior space of the cartridge;

transmitting sonic energy into the closed interior space of the cartridge while liquid introduced into the closed interior space is present in the cartridge; and

forming a beverage by simultaneous interaction of the liquid and sonic energy with the beverage medium.

1. A beverage cartridge arranged for use in a beverage forming machine to make a beverage, comprising:

a container having a closed interior space;

a beverage medium located in the interior space, the beverage medium being used to form a beverage by interaction of the beverage medium with a liquid introduced into the interior space; and

a sonic receiver associated with the container and arranged to transmit sonic energy from a sonic emitter located outside of the closed interior space into the interior space for interaction with the beverage medium.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sonic receiver includes a depression formed in the container that extends into the interior space and is arranged to receive a sonic emitter.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container includes a cup with a top opening and a lid attached to the cup that closes the top opening.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sonic receiver includes an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge that is excited by sonic energy.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a filter arranged to filter at least part of a beverage formed by interaction of the beverage medium with liquid.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the filter is attached to the lid.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sonic receiver is arranged to acoustically couple the interior space with a sonic emitter.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sonic receiver includes a portion of the container arranged to be inserted into a recess of a sonic emitter.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sonic receiver is substantially transparent to sonic energy use to treat the beverage medium.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the sonic receiver is arranged at a sidewall of the container.

11. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein the sonic receiver includes a depression in the sidewall that is arranged to focus or direct sonic energy to desired areas of the interior space.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the cartridge includes a sonic receiver attached to the container and arranged to transmit sonic energy from a sonic emitter located outside of the closed interior space into the interior space for interaction with the beverage medium.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the sonic receiver includes a depression in a sidewall of the container.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the sonic receiver includes an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge that is excited by sonic energy.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of introducing liquid includes:

piercing the container; and

injecting liquid into the closed interior space.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of forming a beverage includes:

causing materials to pass through a filter in the cartridge that would not pass through the filter in the absence of the sonic energy.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of forming a beverage includes:

forming a beverage that has a higher level of dissolved and/or suspended materials than would be present in the absence of the sonic energy.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of transmitting sonic energy includes:

providing a sonic emitter in the interior space; and

emitting sonic energy from the sonic emitter while the sonic emitter is located in the interior space.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the sonic emitter includes an ultrasonic probe.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the beverage is a coffee beverage and the step of forming the beverage includes:

forming a coffee beverage with a turbidity and/or a level of total dissolved solids that is higher than would be present in the absence of the sonic energy.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of transmitting includes:

causing flow of beverage medium and liquid in the interior space by exposing the interior space to the sonic energy.

33-1. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of transmitting includes:

exciting an acoustically compliant portion of the cartridge with the sonic energy.