Process for extracting a substance contained in a sachet

• US 5,762,987 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Lavanchy, Gerard, Yoakim, Alfred, Schaeffer, Jacques, Fond, Olivier, Pleisch, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Weier, Anthony J.
• Application Number:
  US08/788,929
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 426/433, 426/511, 99/295, 99/300, 99/302 R, 99/323.3
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• 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 31/4464 by means of bayonet-type engagement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8043 Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06

Abstract

A substance for preparation of a beverage contained in a sealed flexible sachet is extracted with a device which provides a chamber formed by two members configured so that they each form a cavity which is substantially one-half of the chamber and so that when brought and fastened together, they form the chamber containing the sachet and provide for penetrating the sachet for subsequent injection of water for extraction of the substance. One member has a base which has a surface from which raised portions project and holes for flow of extract therethrough, and this member and the sachet are configured so that upon placing the sachet on the member, one sachet sheet is supported by the raised portions and a sealed peripheral sachet edge extends onto a rim of the member. Upon bringing and fastening the two members together, the members grip the sachet edge for fluid-tight sealing and shape the sachet uniformly and confine the substance within the sachet within the cavities, and the sachet is penetrated. After sealing, water is injected into the sachet under pressure to force the sachet sheet in contact with the raised portions against the portions so that this sheet first is deformed at multiple locations by the raised portions before being torn so that the substance is wetted and then, the sheet is deformed further and torn at multiple locations by the raised portions for flow of extract from the sachet to and through the base holes.

Claims

1. A process for preparation of a beverage comprising:

placing a sachet which confines roast and ground coffee on a first member, wherein

the sachet comprises two opposing substantially symmetrical sheets joined at their edges to form a peripheral sealed sachet edge to contain and confine the coffee between the sheets,

the first member comprises a base, a wall surface and a rim wherein the wall surface extends laterally from the base to the rim to define a first member cavity and the base further comprises a surface and a plurality of portions which project from the surface into the cavity and form portions raised from the surface and which are separated a distance one from another and the base has holes therethrough for flow of an extract therethrough, and

the sachet and the first member are configured so that upon placing the sachet on the first member, the raised portions contact one sachet sheet and support the sachet and so that the peripheral sealed sachet edge extends onto the rim and so that upon injecting water into the sachet under a pressure of between 2 bar and 20 bar, the one contacted sachet sheet first is deformed at plural locations by the raised portions before being torn so that the coffee is wetted and so that after the coffee is wetted, the one contacted sheet then is deformed further and torn at plural locations by the plurality of raised portions;

bringing and fastening together the first member and a second member wherein the second member comprises a wall surface which extends to an edge and defines a second member cavity so that upon being brought and fastened together, the second member edge and the first member rim grip the sachet edge for fluid-tight sealing for extraction of the sachet under pressure and for shaping the sachet uniformly and confining the coffee within the sachet within the first and second member cavities for extraction and while bringing and fastening the first and second members together, also penetrating the sachet for subsequent injection of water into the sachet for extracting the coffee; and

injecting water within the sachet under a pressure of between 2 bar and 20 bar to force the one contacted sheet against the raised portions so that the one contacted sheet first is deformed at plural locations by the plurality of raised portions before being torn so that the coffee is wetted and so that after the coffee is wetted, the one contacted sheet then is deformed further and torn at plural locations by the plurality of raised portions for flow of coffee extract from the sachet to and through the base holes.

2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising injecting air with the water.

3. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the water is injected first in a form of steam to wet the coffee to deform the one sheet and then, water is injected in a liquid form to extract the coffee and so that the one sheet is deformed further and torn.

4. A process according to claim 3 further comprising a pause of not injecting water between the steam injection and the liquid-form water injection.

5. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the coffee confined in the sachet placed upon the first member is in a compacted form.

6. A process according to claim 3 wherein the coffee confined in the sachet placed upon the first member is in a compacted form.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the first and second members and the sachet are configured so that the coffee within the sachet is compacted upon bringing and fastening the first and second members together.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the raised portions are configured and positioned and the one contacted sachet sheet has a breaking point relative to the raised portions so that the one contacted sheet is torn so that during flow of coffee extract from the sachet, movement of coffee solids from within the sachet out of the sachet is impeded.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sachet sheet which opposes the contacted sheet is penetrated for injection of water into the sachet.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the sachet sheet which opposes the contacted sheet is penetrated at a plurality of points for injection of water into the sachet.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the one contacted sachet sheet is penetrated for injection of water.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the second member is pivoted about an axis for bringing the second member together with the first member so that the second member moves as a jaw member.