Dispensing machine
First Claim
1. A beverage dispensing machine for providing a beverage by introducing an aqueous medium into an initially sealed package containing a beverage-producing product, said package including a pressure-sensitive adhesive seal, means for increasing the pressure within the package so that the inside pressure is greater than the ourside pressure to cause said pressure-sensitive seal of the package to rupture and enable material from the package to be released to make a beverage, and means for applying heat to the seal of said package from an external source to reduce the adhesive strength of the seal whereby the pressure required to open the seal is reduced causing the seal to open non-explosively by peeling open in a controlled manner.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine which dispenses beverages from sachets containing a beverage-producing material injects liquid into the sachet. A pressure-sensitive base seam of the sachet is opened by liquid pressure. To prevent the base seam opening explosively and spray solids or liquid away from the beverage receptacle directly below the sachet, a heat source is employed to weaken the seam prior to opening, so that it opens non-explosively by peeling in a controlled manner. The heat source can be internal (an initial volume of hot liquid at a pressure insufficient to break the seal) or external such as a radiant source, hot air or steam. Such a machine is particularly advantageous for dispensing hot chocolate.
94 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A beverage dispensing machine for providing a beverage by introducing an aqueous medium into an initially sealed package containing a beverage-producing product, said package including a pressure-sensitive adhesive seal, means for increasing the pressure within the package so that the inside pressure is greater than the ourside pressure to cause said pressure-sensitive seal of the package to rupture and enable material from the package to be released to make a beverage, and means for applying heat to the seal of said package from an external source to reduce the adhesive strength of the seal whereby the pressure required to open the seal is reduced causing the seal to open non-explosively by peeling open in a controlled manner.
Specification