DEVICE FOR PREPARING AND DISPENSING OF A DRINK AND PRODUCT HOLDER FOR USE THEREIN

• US 20130125758A1
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventum@Work B.V.
• Original Assignee: Etna Coffee Technologies B.V.
• Inventors: Lodeweges, Erik Arnold, Wanders, Jacques Andreas Bernardus
• Application Number:
  US13/695,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/404 Powder dosing devices
• 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: B65D 85/8058 Coding means for the contents

Abstract

A device for preparing and dispensing a drink comprises a dosing device (21,22) for a product to be mixed with a liquid in a mixing chamber (50), wherein the drink prepared therefrom can be drawn off at an outlet (60). The dosing device (21,22) is provided with a placing space for an exchangeable product holder (31,32), an outflow opening of which is at least initially provided with a removable seal (33 . . . 35). The seal comprises a foil folded back on itself, a base part (33) of which is attached to an edge (37,38) of the product holder (31,32) and a folded further part (34) of which leads back to a front side and protrudes with a pulling part (35) out of the placing space. At least the folded part (34) of the foil is laterally movable inside the placing space in order to allow removal of the foil from a placed product holder.

Claims

1. Device for preparing and dispensing a drink, comprising a mixing chamber with supply means for a liquid, in particular hot water, with at least one dosing device for a controlled delivery of a product to be mixed with the liquid in the mixing chamber, and with an outlet at which a prepared drink can be drawn off, wherein the dosing device comprises a product chamber from where the product is dispensed in controlled manner on an outlet side and wherein the dosing device is provided on an inlet side with a placing space with an exchangeable product holder in open communication at an outflow opening with the product chamber, characterized in that the product holder is provided with an electronically readable information carrier, that at least close to the placing space electronic reading means are provided which are able and adapted to read information from the information carrier of a product holder placed therein, and that the reading means are coupled to an electronic control system which controls the device on the basis of at least the information thus readable from the product holder.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the information carrier comprises an at least substantially unique product holder identification and that the product holder identification is readable by the reading means.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the information carrier comprises a product identification of a product arranged in the product holder and that the product identification is readable by the reading means.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the information carrier comprises a recipe for a drink to be prepared from at least a product received in the product holder, and that the recipe is readable by reading means.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the information carrier comprises a customer identification and that the customer identification is readable by the reading means.

6. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the information carrier is electronically rewritable and that electronic programming means are provided at least close to the placing space which are able and adapted to store information in the information carrier of a product holder placed therein.

7. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the information carrier is suitable and adapted for wireless information transfer.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the information carrier comprises a radiographic transponder.

9. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the dosing device forms part of a dosing unit with at least one further dosing device with a placing space having at least one further product holder which is provided with a further electronically readable information carrier, that electronic reading means are likewise provided at least close to the further placing space which are able and adapted to read information from the further information carrier of the product holder placed therein.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the dosing unit comprises separate product chambers adjacently of each other in a connected, in particular unitary body.

11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the product chambers each comprise on the outlet side an outlet which is in open communication with the inlet of a shared mixing chamber.

12. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outflow opening of the product holder is at least initially provided with a removable seal which comprises a foil folded back on itself, a base part of which is attached to an edge of the outflow opening and a folded further part of which leads back to a front side of the placing space facing toward the outlet and protrudes with a pulling part out of the placing space, and that at least the folded part of the foil is laterally movable inside the placing space in order to allow removal of the foil from a product holder placed in the placing space.

13. Device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the foil comprises an optionally metallized plastic foil or a metal foil which has been attached to the edge of the outflow opening and seals an unopened product holder vapour-tightly.

14. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the placing space comprises a shape lock in which the product holder can be placed at least substantially form-fittingly.

15. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the shape lock comprises a substantially rectangular recess into which the product holder can be placed at least substantially form-fittingly with a similarly formed base part.

16. Device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the shape lock comprises a guide slot in which an edge of the product holder can be moved close-fittingly.

17. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the placing space comprises manually releasable snap means which are able and adapted to fix the product holder in a correct position.

18. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the product holder comprises a loose product from a group comprising powdered milk, sugar, cocoa powder, tea powder and coffee powder.

19. Product holder provided with an electronically readable information carrier for application in the device as claimed in claim 1.