Electronic coded coffee packets sealed in a gas flushed envelope, a beverage brewing machine using same as well as a method for brewing

• US 5,974,950 A
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keurig Canada, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Innovations AMK Inc.
• Inventors: King, Alan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/138,859
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 99/295, 99/289 R, 99/290, 99/302 R, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/289.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3633 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Abstract

A beverage brewing machine, a method for brewing a beverage preparation material and a beverage brewing envelope are provided. The beverage brewing machine has an upper brewing chamber adapted to receive hot water and a beverage preparation material and having an open lower end. A cylinder with an upper end normally in registration with the open lower end of the upper brewing chamber is further provided. An envelope enclosing a packet is provided wherein the packet encloses the beverage preparation material. The customer may remove the packet from the envelope and place it on a carrier plate which automatically moves into brewing position and then is discarded by the customer, or, in a different execution, the carrier plate receives the envelope and extracts the packet including the beverage preparation material from the envelope and places the packet over the cylinder. Further, the packet may include a machine readable code such that a scanner associated with the machine is capable of scanning the code associated with the product.

Claims

1. A beverage brewing machine comprising:

an upper brewing chamber adapted to receive hot water and a beverage preparation material and having an open lower end;

a cylinder with an open upper end normally in registration with the open lower end of the upper brewing chamber;

an envelope enclosing a packet, the packet enclosing the beverage preparation material; and

a carrier plate that receives the envelope with a holding means associated with the carrier plate capable of holding the packet wherein the carrier plate extracts the packet including the beverage preparation material and places the packet over the cylinder.

2. The beverage brewing machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a strip connected to one end of the envelope; and

at least one pin associated with the carrier plate capable of engaging the envelope when the carrier plate is fully inserted into the envelope.

3. The beverage brewing machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a fold in the envelope at the end opposite to where the strip is fastened so that when the carrier plate is fully inserted into the envelope, the carrier plate rests under that fold when the strip is engaged;

or

a second strip which is connected to the end opposite to where the first strip is fastened so that when the carrier plate is fully inserted into the envelope the carrier plate rests under this second strip.

4. The beverage brewing machine of claim 1 wherein the carrier plate can re-insert the packet into the envelope after brewing of the beverage preparation material.

5. The beverage brewing machine of claim 1 further comprising:

scanning means capable of scanning a machine readable code on the envelope and/or the packet.