BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES

• US 20120156336A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Incorporated (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansen, Nick Andrew, Bentley, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/231
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0605 with a valve at the filter-outlet; Anti-drip devices A47J31/0615, A47J31/0621 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0621 with means for varying the infusion outflow velocity, e.g. for brewing smaller quantities
• 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: 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: A47J 31/4496 Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8058 Coding means for the contents

Abstract

A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients comprises a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine and a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine. The valve enables preparation of beverages at a range of pressures by having at least an open position and at least one restricted flow position, and a controller for selecting an initial valve position and controlling the subsequent operation of the valve according to the determination of the type of beverage to be prepared by the cartridge recognition device.

Claims

1. A beverage preparation machine for preparing beverages from a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients, the machine comprising:

a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine;

a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine, the valve configured to prepare beverages at a range of pressures by having at least an open position and at least one restricted flow position; and

a controller for selecting an initial valve position and controlling subsequent operation of the variable geometry valve according to the type of beverage determined by the cartridge recognition device.

2. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable geometry valve additionally has a closed position preventing flow.

3. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable geometry valve additionally has a purge position for diverting purge waste away from a dispensing area.

4. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to change the variable geometry valve position during the preparation of the beverage according to pressure and/or flow requirements of the beverage preparation cycle.

5. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable geometry valve is a rotating ball valve.

6. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable geometry valve is a pinch valve.

7. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restricted flow position of the variable geometry valve is configured to create a back pressure in the cartridge of 2 to 9 bar.

8. A method of preparing beverages using a beverage preparation machine for preparing beverages from a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients, the machine comprising a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine, the valve enabling preparation of beverages at a range of pressures and having at least an open position and a restricted flow position, and a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine, the method comprising:

determining the type of beverage to be produced from a cartridge;

selecting an initial valve position; and

controlling subsequent operation of the variable geometry valve according to the type of beverage to be prepared as determined by the cartridge recognition device.

9. The method of preparing beverages as claimed in claim 8, further comprising changing the variable geometry valve position during a beverage preparation cycle.

10. The method of preparing beverages as claimed in claim 9, further comprising pulsing the variable geometry valve position between positions during the beverage preparation cycle.