Cartridge system for the preparation of beverages and method of manufacturing said system

• US 7,533,604 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Incorporated (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ballard, Colin, Halliday, Andrew, Panesar, Satwinder
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/763,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20040191371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 992/89.R, 993/02.R, 993/23, 426/112, 426/115, 426/120, 426/77, 426/82, 426/80
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4407 Lids, covers or knobs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/446 Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8055 Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0812 Bottles, cartridges or similar containers

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a cartridge for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of:

• • a. manufacturing a plurality of outer members comprising at least a first type of outer member and a second type of outer member having differing shape or configurations;
  • b. manufacturing a plurality of inner members comprising at least a first type of inner member and a second type of inner member having differing shape or configurations;
  • c. storing said plurality of outer members and said inner members;
  • d. selecting one of the first type of outer member or the second type of outer member from the plurality of outer members;
  • e. selecting one of the first type of inner member or the second type of inner member from the plurality of inner members;
  • f. conjoining the selected inner member to the selected outer member;
  • g. filling the outer member with one or more beverage ingredients; and
  • h. sealing the outer member with a lid to form the cartridge.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a cartridge for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of:

a. manufacturing a plurality of outer members comprising at least a first type of outer member and a second type of outer member having differing shape or configurations;

b. manufacturing a plurality of inner members comprising at least a first type of inner member and a second type of inner member having differing shape or configurations, the first and second types of inner member being interchangeable, and joining a filter member to the first type and/or second type of inner member;

c. storing said plurality of outer members and said inner members;

d. selecting one of the first type of outer member or the second type of outer member from the plurality of outer members;

e. selecting one of the first type of inner member or the second type of inner member from the plurality of inner members;

f. conjoining the selected inner member to the selected outer member such that the inner member is within the outer member;

g. filling the outer member with one or more beverage ingredients selected from a plurality of beverage ingredients; and

h. sealing the outer member with a lid to form the cartridge.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first type of outer member is suitable for containing roast and ground beverage ingredients or the like.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second type of outer member is suitable for containing soluble or liquid beverage ingredients or the like.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first type of inner member is suitable for filtering roast and ground beverage ingredients and the like.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second type of inner member is suitable for filtering roast and ground beverage ingredients and the like and has means for entraining a plurality of air bubbles in the dispensed beverage.

6. A method of manufacturing a cartridge for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of:

a. manufacturing a plurality of outer members comprising at least a first type of outer member and a second type of outer member having differing shape or configurations, wherein the first type of outer member is suitable for containing roast and ground beverage ingredients or the like and the second type of outer member is suitable for containing soluble or liquid beverage ingredients or the like;

b. manufacturing a plurality of inner members comprising at least a first type of inner member and a second type of inner member having differing shape or configurations, the first and second types of inner member being interchangeable, and joining a filter member to the first type and/or second type of inner member, wherein the first type of inner member is suitable for filtering roast and ground beverage ingredients and the like and the second type of inner member is suitable for filtering roast and ground beverage ingredients and the like and for entraining a plurality of air bubbles in the dispensed beverage, wherein the first and second type of inner member comprise a frame having a filter disposed thereupon, and wherein a peripheral rim of the frame is conjoined to the selected type of outer member by welding;

c. storing said plurality of outer members and said inner members;

d. selecting one of the first type of outer member or the second type of outer member from the plurality of outer members;

e. selecting one of the first type of inner member or the second type of inner member from the plurality of inner members;

f. conjoining the selected inner member to the selected outer member such that the inner member is within the outer member;

g. filling the outer member with one or more beverage ingredients selected from a plurality of beverage ingredients; and

h. sealing the outer member with a lid to form the cartridge.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second type of inner member comprises means for producing a jet of the beverage, which means comprises an aperture in a beverage flow path between an inlet and an outlet of the cartridge.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising manufacturing and storing a third type of inner member.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the third type of inner member is suitable for dispensing soluble beverage ingredients and the like.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising manufacturing and storing a fourth type of inner member.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fourth type of inner member is suitable for dispensing liquid beverage ingredients and the like.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the third or fourth type of inner member comprises a skirt surrounding an outlet, the skirt comprising an upper extension having an upper rim which engages, on assembly of the cartridge, a co-operating formation of the selected type of outer member to form a snap-fit arrangement for conjoining the third or fourth type of inner member to the selected type of outer member.

13. A method of manufacturing a cartridge for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of:

a. manufacturing a plurality of outer members comprising at least a first type of outer member and a second type of outer member having differing shape or configurations, the first type of outer member is suitable for containing roast and ground beverage ingredients or the like and the second type of outer member is suitable for containing soluble or liquid beverage ingredients or the like;

b. manufacturing a plurality of inner members comprising at least a first type of inner member and a second type of inner member having differing shape or configurations,

joining a filter member to the first type and/or second type of inner member, wherein the first type of inner member is suitable for filtering roast and ground beverage ingredients and the like and the second type of inner member is suitable for filtering roast and ground beverage ingredients and the like and for entraining a plurality of air bubbles in the dispensed beverage and wherein the first and second type of inner member comprise a frame having a filter disposed thereupon, and wherein a peripheral rim of the frame is conjoined to the selected type of outer member by welding and the second type of inner member comprises means for producing a jet of the beverage, which means comprises an aperture in a beverage flow path between an inlet and an outlet of the cartridge,

manufacturing and storing a third type of inner member suitable for dispensing soluble beverage ingredients and the like, and manufacturing and storing a fourth type of inner member suitable for dispensing a liquid beverage ingredients and the like,

the third or fourth type of inner member comprises a skirt surrounding an outlet, the skirt comprising an upper extension having an upper rim which engages, on assembly of the cartridge, a co-operating formation of the selected type of outer member to form a snap-fit arrangement for conjoining the third or fourth type of inner member to the selected type of outer member;

c. storing said plurality of outer members and said inner members;

d. selecting one of the first type of outer member or the second type of outer member from the plurality of outer members;

e. selecting one of the first type of inner member or the second type of inner member from the plurality of inner members;

f. conjoining the selected inner member to the selected outer member such that the inner member is within the outer member;

g. filling the outer member with one or more beverage ingredients selected from a plurality of beverage ingredients; and

h. sealing the outer member with a lid to form the cartridge.