IDENTIFICATION OF BEVERAGE INGREDIENT CONTAINING CAPSULES

• US 20120255448A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Ozanne, Matthieu, Vuagniaux, Didier
• Granted Patent: US 8,919,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3685 Brewing heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge

Abstract

The invention concerns a beverage production system comprising beverage ingredient containing capsules (1) comprising an identification member (6) and a beverage production machine for receiving said capsules, said machine comprising:—contact means (8) for physically contacting the capsule identification member (6) in order to read information thereof and—control means connected to the contact means and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine (11) in response to the read information, the contact means (8) comprising:—at least one displaceable probe (81) which mechanically contacts the capsule identification member (6),—a resilient support member (82) in contact with the probe on one side and associated to a circuitry (9) on its other side, the parts of said resilient support member in contact with the probe presenting a shape able to be deformed,—discrete conductive parts (121) between the resilient support member (82) and the circuitry (9), wherein the contact means (8) comprises a waterproof material layer (12) between the resilient support member (82) and the discrete conductive parts (121).

Claims

1. A beverage production system comprising beverage ingredient containing capsules comprising an identification member and a beverage production machine for receiving the capsules, the machine comprising:

a contact means for physically contacting the capsule identification member in order to read information thereof;

a controller connected to the contact and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine in response to the read information; and

the contact comprising;

at least one displaceable probe which mechanically contacts the capsule identification member,

a resilient support member in contact with the probe on one side and associated to a circuitry on its other side, the parts of the resilient support member in contact with the probe presenting a shape able to be deformed; and

discrete conductive parts between the resilient support member and the circuitry,

wherein the contact comprises a waterproof material layer between the resilient support member and the discrete conductive parts.

2. A beverage production system according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof material layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, plastic, aluminium or a laminate of plastic-aluminium.

3. A beverage production system according to claim 1, wherein the discrete conductive parts present a shape able to close the circuitry when they are pushed against areas of the circuitry which can be short-circuited.

4. A beverage production system according to claim 1, wherein the discrete conductive parts are fixed on the waterproof material layer.

5. A beverage production system according to claim 4, wherein the discrete conductive parts are fixed on the side of the waterproof material layer facing the circuitry.

6. A beverage production system according to claim 4, wherein the waterproof material layer is made of an elastomeric member and the discrete conductive parts are made of graphite.

7. A beverage production system according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof material layer is made of a silicone or an EPDM rubber.

8. A beverage production system according to claim 1, wherein the discrete electrical conductive pieces are on a film and the waterproof material layer is placed between the resilient support member and the film.

9. A beverage production system according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof material layer is selected in the group consisting of laminates of PET/aluminium/PP, PE/EVOH/PP, PET/Metallised/PP, and aluminium/PP.

10. A beverage production system according to claim 8, wherein the discrete conductive parts are fixed on the side of the film facing the circuitry.