Method for brewing using electronic coded coffee packets sealed in a gas flushed envelope and a beverage brewing machine

• US 6,117,471 A
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keurig Canada, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alan M. King
• Inventors: King, Alan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weier, Anthony J.
• Application Number:
  US09/260,315
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 426/77, 426/431, 426/432, 426/433
• US Class Current: 426/433
• 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 method for brewing a beverage preparation material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a packet having an interior wherein the packet holds the beverage preparation material within the interior of the packet and further wherein the packet has an aperture;

providing an envelope wherein the envelope surrounds the packet and further wherein the envelope is placed on a carrier plate;

providing access to the packet while the packet is in the envelope;

engaging the aperture of the packet with the carrier plate attaching the packet to the carrier plate;

moving the carrier plate to remove the packet from the envelope;

inserting the packet into a beverage brewing machine; and

brewing the beverage preparation material inside the beverage brewing machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

automatically returning the packet into the envelope.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

removing the envelope including the packet within the envelope from the carrier plate.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing at least one pin associated with the carrier plate wherein the at least one pin engages the packet to remove the packet from the envelope.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

scanning a machine readable code associated with the envelope.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

cutting the envelope along a fold line to provide access to the packet.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

scanning a machine readable code associated with the packet.

8. A method for brewing a beverage preparation material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a packet having an interior wherein the packet holds the beverage preparation material within the interior of the packet and further wherein the packet has an aperture;

providing an envelope wherein the envelope surrounds the packet and further wherein the envelope is placed on a carrier plate;

providing access to the packet while the packet is in the envelope;

engaging the aperture of the packet with the carrier plate;

attaching the packet to the carrier plate;

moving the carrier plate to remove the packet from the envelope;

inserting the packet into a beverage brewing machine;

brewing the beverage preparation material inside the beverage brewing machine; and

automatically returning the packet into the envelope.

9. A method for brewing a beverage preparation material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a packet having an interior wherein the packet holds the beverage preparation material within the interior of the packet and further wherein the packet has an aperture;

providing an envelope wherein the envelope surrounds the packet and further wherein the envelope is placed on a carrier plate;

providing access to the packet while the packet is in the envelope;

engaging the aperture of the packet with the carrier plate;

attaching the packet to the carrier plate;

moving the carrier plate to remove the packet from the envelope;

inserting the packet into a beverage brewing machine;

brewing the beverage preparation material inside the beverage brewing machine; and

removing the envelope including the packet within the envelope from the carrier plate.

10. A method for brewing a beverage preparation material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a packet having an interior wherein the packet holds the beverage preparation material within the interior of the packet and further wherein the packet has an aperture;

providing an envelope wherein the envelope surrounds the packet and further wherein the envelope is placed on a carrier plate;

cutting the envelope along a fold line to provide access to the packet;

engaging the aperture of the packet with the carrier plate;

attaching the packet to the carrier plate;

moving the carrier plate to remove the packet from the envelope;

inserting the packet into a beverage brewing machine; and

brewing the beverage preparation material inside the beverage brewing machine.