System, method and capsules for producing sparkling drinks

• US 9,700,852 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2012
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: So Spark Ltd. (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: So Spark Ltd. (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shalev, Pinchas
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawla, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US13/685,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20140065266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 426474, 426477, 261131, 261138, 261152, 261156
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/54 Mixing with gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/11 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4403 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/14 Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/236 specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237621 in beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/804 Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ , i.e. without having been previously removed from the package B65D65/46 takes precedence; tea infusers A47G19/16; spoons or stirrers comprising beverage additives A47G21/04

Abstract

A system and a method for the production and provision of CO₂ gas is disclosed. A sealable chamber is equipped with heating means and when sodium bicarbonate is placed in it and heated to its decomposition temperature CO₂ gas is released. The released gas is conveyed into liquid within a container and when the pressure of the gas in the container raises more and more CO₂ gas is dissolved. The heating may be done by conduction mechanism or by induction mechanism. The sodium bicarbonate or any other material including carbon dioxide may be disposed in powder or solid form. I may be disposed in thin envelope case.

Claims

1. A device for providing carbon dioxide gas, the device comprising:

a pressure-sealed pressure chamber adapted to be filled with substantially dry sodium bicarbonate powder;

a gas conduit connected at its proximal end to said chamber to provide said carbon dioxide gas from said chamber; and

heat energy unit to provide energy to heat substantially dry sodium bicarbonate powder in said chamber to a temperature in the range of 150-400 degrees Celsius to release carbon dioxide from said sodium bicarbonate;

wherein said chamber comprising a base element and a cap element, said base element and said cap element are adapted to keep pressure inside said chamber in closed position and to open and allow inserting and removing substance when in opened position.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising container cap disposed so that said conduit passes via said cap in a pressure-sealed manner, said cap is disposed in a distance from the distal end of said conduit so as to ensure that when a container filled with liquid is adapted to and secured said container cap said distal end of said conduit is submerged in said liquid.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising circulating means comprising:

circulating pump;

inlet conduit connected to said pump at its inlet port and made to have its free end submerged in said liquid in said container when said container is attached to said device and filled with liquid; and

outlet conduit connected to said pump at its outlet port and made to spray liquid received from said pump in the headspace of said container.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said base element is formed with heating fins protruding from the inner face of the element.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said heat energy unit comprising one or more electrical heating elements to provide heat to said substantially dry sodium bicarbonate powder.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said heat energy unit comprising electromagnetic element to provide electromagnetic energy to said substantially dry sodium bicarbonate powder by induction heating mechanism.

7. The device of claim 2 further comprising pressure control unit comprising;

heat control unit;

pressure indicator to provide indication of the pressure in said pressure conduit; and

temperature control signal provided by said pressure control unit to said heat energy unit, to control said pressure by said heat energy unit.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein said gas conduit is shaped as a cooling element, further comprising:

cooling fan adapted to flow air on said cooling element shaped conduit.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a safety pressure outlet to relieve pressure from said chamber when said pressure exceeds a predefined pressure level.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to provide feedback to the heat energy unit so as to regulate the temperature in the chamber.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the substantially dry powder is in a tablet form.