CAPSULE SYSTEM FOR THE PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES BY CENTRIFUGATION

• US 20120171334A1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Yoakim, Alfred, Denisart, Jean-Paul, Ryser, Antoine, Perentes, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 9,668,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/87
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/262 the extraction liquid flows through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns
• 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 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/22 Centrifuges for producing filtered coffee A47J31/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3676 Cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8058 Coding means for the contents

Abstract

A capsule system for preparing beverages by centrifugation of a capsule in a centrifuging brewing device comprising: a set of different capsules (1A, 1B; 1C, 1D; 1E, 1F, 1G; 1H, 1I; 1J,1K, 1L); each one for selectively delivering a beverage having specific characteristics that differ from the other capsules of the set; each capsule of the set comprising a body (2) with a sidewall and a free rim (3), an upper wall (4) and an extractable or infusible ingredient; and an insertion diameter (D) of the body of the capsule for insertion in a rotary capsule holder (14) of the centrifuge brewing device (7) in a referential position, wherein the different capsules in the set having bodies (2) of different storage volumes obtained by a variable depth (d1, d2, d3) of the body in the set but the same insertion diameter (D) for all capsules of the set.

Claims

1. A capsule system for preparing beverages by centrifugation of a capsule in a centrifuging brewing device comprising:

a set of different capsules each one for selectively delivering a beverage having specific characteristics that differ from the other capsules of the set;

each capsule of the set comprising a body with a sidewall and a free rim, an upper wall and an extractable or infusible ingredient;

an insertion diameter of the body of the capsule for insertion in a rotary capsule holder of the centrifuge brewing device in a referential position, and

the different capsules in the set have bodies of different storage volumes obtained by a variable depth of the body in the set but all capsules of the set have the same insertion diameter.

2. Capsule system according to claim 1, wherein the different capsules in the set have at least one upper body portion having substantially the same angle or the same stepped profile.

3. Capsule system according to claim 1, wherein the different capsules in the set have at least one lower portion having a variable depth for providing the different storage volumes.

4. Capsule system according to claim 1, wherein the different capsules in the set have a convex body portion of variable depth for providing the different storage volumes.

5. Capsule system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of infusible or extractable ingredient increases as a function of the storage volume increasing in the set.

6. Capsule system according to claim 5, wherein the capsules contain coffee having different characteristics in the set.

7. Capsule system according to claim 1, wherein the capsules of the set comprises an identification member for identifying each capsule and adjusting the brewing parameters in the device accordingly.

8. Capsule system according to claim 7, wherein the adjustable parameters comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of a rotational speed of the capsule during brewing, a flow rate, and the volume of liquid fed in the capsule.

9. Capsule system according to claim 7, wherein the set of identification members comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of relating to the monitoring of the flow, injection of liquid in the capsule and extraction of the beverage from the capsule.

10. Capsule system according to claim 1, comprising a capsule holder of the brewing device with a support surface for supporting a portion of the body of any capsule of the set, the portion of body comprising a referential diameter matching the insertion diameter of any capsule in the set.

11. Capsule system according to claim 10, wherein the support surface of the capsule holder holds an upper portion of the body of the different capsules in the set whereas providing no support for a lower portion of the body of the capsules.

12. System for brewing a beverage using a capsule which is centrifuged in a centrifugal brewing device comprising:

a set of capsules having different volumes;

identification members corresponding to different capsules of the set; and

a centrifugal brewing device comprising a control member for operating the device for any capsule of the set according to predetermined brewing parameters including at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of;

flow rate, rotational speed, volume of injected liquid in the capsule, temperature of injected liquid and combinations thereof.

13. System according to claim 12, wherein the controller operates the device for any capsule of the set according to the flow rate and the volume of injected liquid in the capsule.

14. System according to claim 12, wherein the identification members comprises a capsule recognition member which recognizes by using a sensor connected to the controller of the brewing device which controls the brewing parameters accordingly.

15. Method for brewing a beverage using a capsule which is centrifuged in a centrifugal brewing device comprising:

providing a set of capsules having different volumes;

selecting a capsule from the set of capsules and centrifuging the capsule in the brewing device for brewing a beverage; and

at least one of the following parameters;

the flow rate, the rotational speed and the volume of injected liquid is adjusted as a function of the volume of the selected capsule.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the flow rate and the volume of injected liquid are adjusted as a function of the volume of the selected capsule.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the smaller the volume of the capsule, the smaller the flow rate.

18. Method according to claim 16, wherein the smaller the volume of the capsule, the smaller the volume of injected liquid in the capsule.