System comprising a coffee machine and a portion capsule

• US 8,307,754 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tchibo GmbH (Maxingvest AG)
• Original Assignee: Tchibo GmbH (Maxingvest AG)
• Inventors: Mund, Klaus-Dieter, Ternité, Rüdiger, Mauss, Sebastian, Schweminski, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/719,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20090126577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,570 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 992/89.R, 993/02.R, 993/05, 992/80, 992/83
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/34 with hot water under liquid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• 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 31/545 Control or safety devices
• 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

The invention relates to a coffee machine for brewing a hot drink, in particular, a coffee drink, by means of a portion capsule with a capsule lid and a capsule base, comprising a pressurized water device, a portion capsule holder and a controller. The portion capsule holder is provided with two relatively-displaceable puncture means, which pierce the capsule lid and the capsule base on or after insertion of the portion capsule in the portion capsule holder, such that hot water can enter the portion capsule through the capsule lid and the drink escapes through the capsule base from the portion capsule. The controller is provided for the provision of three differing pressures for the pressurized water, for example, for brewing espresso, white coffee and filter coffee. The capsule base of the portion capsule can comprise a pre-weakened spot.

Claims

1. A coffee machine operable to brew a hot beverage through a portion capsule with a capsule lid and a capsule base, the coffee machine comprising:

a pressurized-water device;

a portion-capsule holder;

a control means; and

piercing elements which can be moved relative to one another to thereby pierce the capsule lid and capsule base, such that hot water is permitted to pass into the pierced portion capsule through the capsule lid and brewed liquid is permitted to pass out of the pierced portion capsule though the capsule base,

said control means being operable to provide at least three different pressures for the pressurized water,

said control means being operable to provide the three pressures corresponding to brewing of different hot beverages, with the different hot beverages being selected from the group consisting of espresso, cafe crema, and filter coffee.

2. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

said three pressures being in the range of approximately 13-18 bar, approximately 9-13 bar, and approximately 3-9 bar, respectively.

3. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

at least one of the piercing elements including a hollow spike with a tip presenting at least one opening.

4. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1, each of the piercing elements including only one spike.

5. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

said coffee machine presenting an abutment surface relative to which the portion-capsule holder can be moved.

6. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 5, said portion-capsule holder being removable from the rest of the coffee machine.

7. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

said coffee machine including an endless seal,

said capsule lid presenting an outer peripheral margin, with the endless seal configured to be positioned against the outer peripheral margin.

8. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

said portion-capsule holder including a mount and an insert that is configured to receive the portion capsule, with the insert being shiftably mounted in the mount,

one of said piercing elements being fastened on the mount, with the insert operable to be shifted such that it can be displaced, counter to spring pressure, in the direction of the one piercing element.

9. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

one of said piercing elements being configured to pierce the capsule base only once the portion capsule has been inserted, when a pressure builds up in the portion capsule.

10. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 1,

said portion-capsule holder including a collecting chamber operable to receive beverage passing out of the portion capsule, and further including a beverage outflow fluidly connected to the collecting chamber.

11. The system as claimed in claim 2,

said three pressures being in the range of approximately 14-16 bar, approximately 10-12 bar, and approximately 5-7 bar, respectively.

12. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 4,

said only one spike operable to be arranged centrally in relation to the capsule lid and the capsule base when the portion capsule is inserted.

13. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 5, one of said piercing elements projecting from the abutment surface.

14. The coffee machine as claimed in claim 6,

said coffee machine including a movable retaining device which is operable to accommodate the portion-capsule holder and by means of which the portion-capsule holder can be moved relative to the abutment surface.

15. A system comprising:

a portion capsule including a capsule lid and a capsule base, with the portion capsule being enclosed on all sides and thereby containing a particulate beverage substance which is configured to be extracted by water,

said portion capsule including a perforated device arranged between the particulate beverage substance and at least one of the capsule lid and the capsule base, with the perforated device presenting a number of openings; and

a coffee machine operable to brew a hot beverage and including a pressurized-water device, a portion-capsule holder and a control means,

said coffee machine further including piercing elements which can be moved relative to one another to thereby pierce the capsule lid and capsule base such that hot water is permitted to pass into the pierced portion capsule through the capsule lid and brewed liquid is permitted to pass out of the pierced portion capsule though the capsule base,

said control means being operable to provide at least three different pressures for the pressurized water,

said control means being operable to provide the three pressures corresponding to brewing of different hot beverages, with the different hot beverages being selected from the group consisting of espresso, cafe crema, and filter coffee,

said particulate beverage substance in the portion capsule comprising a coffee substance operable to brew espresso, cafe crema, or filter coffee.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15,

said three pressures being in the range of approximately 13-18 bar, approximately 9-13 bar, and approximately 3-9 bar, respectively.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15,

at least one of the piercing elements including a hollow spike with a tip presenting at least one opening.

18. The system as claimed in claim 15, each of the piercing elements including only one spike.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15,

said coffee machine presenting an abutment surface relative to which the portion-capsule holder can be moved.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, said portion-capsule holder being removable from the rest of the coffee machine.

21. The system as claimed in claim 15,

said coffee machine including an endless seal,

said capsule lid presenting an outer peripheral margin, with the endless seal being positioned against the outer peripheral margin.

22. The system as claimed in claim 15,

said portion-capsule holder including a mount and an insert that receives the portion capsule, with the insert being shiftably mounted in the mount,

one of said piercing elements being fastened on the mount, with the insert operable to be shifted such that it can be displaced, counter to spring pressure, in the direction of the one piercing element.

23. The system as claimed in claim 15,

one of said piercing elements being configured to pierce the capsule base only once the portion capsule has been inserted, and when a pressure builds up in the portion capsule.

24. The system as claimed in claim 15,

said portion-capsule holder including a collecting chamber operable to receive beverage passing out of the portion capsule, and further including a beverage outflow fluidly connected to the collecting chamber.

25. The system as claimed in claim 15, said capsule base presenting a predetermined weakening location.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25,

said portion capsule including a piece of film material that forms the predetermined weakening location.

27. The system as claimed in claim 16,

said three pressures being in the range of approximately 14-16 bar, approximately 10-12 bar, and approximately 5-7 bar, respectively.

28. The system as claimed in claim 18,

said only one spike being arranged centrally in relation to the capsule lid and the capsule base when the portion capsule is inserted.

29. The system as claimed in claim 19, one of said piercing elements projecting from the abutment surface.

30. The system as claimed in claim 20,

said coffee machine including a movable retaining device which is operable to accommodate the portion-capsule holder and by means of which the portion-capsule holder can be moved relative to the abutment surface.

31. The system as claimed in claim 26, said piece of film material being arranged in a central region of the capsule base.