Capsule-Based System for Preparing and Dispensing a Beverage
First Claim
1. A beverage dispensing device adapted to dispense both hot and cold beverages comprising:
- a housing;
a control panel mounted on the housing, the control panel configured to permit selection of a beverage;
a controller in said housing, the controller in communication with the control panel;
a motor-driven hot/cold drink dispensing module mounted in the housing under control of the controller, the hot/cold drink dispensing mechanism comprising;
a chassis containing a carrier adapted to receive and hold either a cold capsule containing a cold beverage mix and a hot capsule containing a hot beverage mix;
a cover mounted on the chassis, the cover pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
at least one beverage exit orifice on a bottom surface of the chassis;
a cold beverage preparation mechanism cooperating with the cover, the mechanism adapted to open an inserted cold beverage capsule as the cover is closed;
the cold beverage preparation mechanism also adapted to rotate the opened cold beverage capsule from a horizontal position to a rotated position allowing an injected stream of cold liquid to mix and force its contents out through the exit orifice;
a hot beverage preparation mechanism also cooperating with the cover, the hot beverage preparation mechanism including a capsule carrier configured receive and hold a capsule containing a hot beverage mix, the capsule carrier configured to move downward against a spring as the cover is closed;
the mechanism also including an outlet needle attached to the chassis below the capsule bottom;
an inlet injection needle attached to a motor-driven arm adapted to puncture the capsule'"'"'s top when the arm is rotated, wherein after the capsule'"'"'s top is punctured, the motor-driven arm forces the capsule further downward against the spring causing the outlet needle to puncture the capsule'"'"'s bottom;
the mechanism then injecting hot liquid into the capsule through the inlet injection needle and withdrawing hot beverage through the outlet needle and conveying it to the exit orifice.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A beverage dispensing device adapted to dispense both hot and cold beverages comprising:
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a housing; a control panel mounted on the housing, the control panel configured to permit selection of a beverage; a controller in said housing, the controller in communication with the control panel; a motor-driven hot/cold drink dispensing module mounted in the housing under control of the controller, the hot/cold drink dispensing mechanism comprising; a chassis containing a carrier adapted to receive and hold either a cold capsule containing a cold beverage mix and a hot capsule containing a hot beverage mix; a cover mounted on the chassis, the cover pivotable between an open position and a closed position; at least one beverage exit orifice on a bottom surface of the chassis; a cold beverage preparation mechanism cooperating with the cover, the mechanism adapted to open an inserted cold beverage capsule as the cover is closed;
the cold beverage preparation mechanism also adapted to rotate the opened cold beverage capsule from a horizontal position to a rotated position allowing an injected stream of cold liquid to mix and force its contents out through the exit orifice;a hot beverage preparation mechanism also cooperating with the cover, the hot beverage preparation mechanism including a capsule carrier configured receive and hold a capsule containing a hot beverage mix, the capsule carrier configured to move downward against a spring as the cover is closed;
the mechanism also including an outlet needle attached to the chassis below the capsule bottom;
an inlet injection needle attached to a motor-driven arm adapted to puncture the capsule'"'"'s top when the arm is rotated, wherein after the capsule'"'"'s top is punctured, the motor-driven arm forces the capsule further downward against the spring causing the outlet needle to puncture the capsule'"'"'s bottom;
the mechanism then injecting hot liquid into the capsule through the inlet injection needle and withdrawing hot beverage through the outlet needle and conveying it to the exit orifice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A beverage dispensing device adapted to dispense both hot and cold beverages comprising:
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a chassis containing a cavity adapted to receive and hold a cold capsule containing a cold beverage mix or a hot capsule containing a hot beverage mix; a cover pivotably mounted to said chassis, the cover pivotable between and open position and a closed position; a hot beverage exit orifice on a bottom surface of said chassis, and a cold beverage exit orifice also on the bottom surface of said chassis; a cold beverage preparation mechanism cooperating with said cover adapted to open an inserted cold beverage capsule as the cover is closed, the cold beverage preparation mechanism also adapted to rotate the opened cold beverage capsule to a position where it can empty its contents when injected with cold liquid to prepare a cold beverage, the cold beverage exiting the cold beverage exit orifice into a cup; a hot beverage preparation mechanism adapted to rotate a motor-driven injection needle until the injection needle punctures and penetrates a top surface or lid of the hot capsule and then lower the hot capsule onto an output needle so that the output needle punctures a bottom surface of the hot capsule after the injection needle has penetrated the top surface, the injection needle adapted to infuse hot liquid into the hot capsule to prepare a hot beverage, the hot beverage being conveyed out of the output needle and exiting the hot beverage exit orifice into a cup. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A beverage dispenser comprising:
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a housing with a cover; a controller in said housing; a water heater and water temperature sensor in the housing configured to controlled in closed-loop operation by the controller to bring water for injection to a temperature sufficient for hot water brewing or mixing; a capsule receiving apparatus in said housing configured to receive either a cold drink capsule or a hot drink capsule, the capsule receiving apparatus operably coupled to a capsule manipulation part adapted to open an inserted cold drink capsule when said cover is closed, or force an inserted hot drink capsule downward toward a bottom puncture needle when said cover is closed; a hot water injection needle on a rotating arm adapted to first puncture a top surface of an inserted hot capsule and then force the hot capsule downward onto the bottom puncture needle, the hot water injection needle adapted to infuse said hot water into the hot drink capsule under pressure producing a brewed or mixed hot drink; a cold water streaming system adapted to stream a predetermined quantity of cold water into an inserted, opened cold drink capsule causing its contents to dissolve or mix; the capsule manipulation part also adapted to rotate an inserted cold drink capsule approximately ninety degrees after its contents have dissolved or mixed causing said contents to pour into a vessel; the cold water streaming system also adapted to stream additional cold water into said vessel as said contents pour into the vessel producing a cold beverage.
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31. A beverage dispenser adapted to dispense a cold drink from a capsule by opening the capsule and injecting a cold fluid into it mixing its contents, and then pouring the contents into a vessel while injecting further cold fluid into the vessel to produce a cold drink;
- the beverage dispenser also adapted to dispense a hot drink from a capsule by first puncturing the capsule top, then puncturing the capsule bottom, then injecting a hot liquid into the capsule top, and then withdrawing a hot drink from the capsule bottom into a vessel.
Specification