System, method and capsule for preparing a beverage

• US 9,604,776 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kamerbeek, Ralf, Flamand, John Henri, van Loon-Post, Angenita Dorothea, Koeling, Hendrik Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CHAIM A
• Application Number:
  US13/314,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20120121765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 426 77- 84, 992/95
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/262 the extraction liquid flows through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/005 Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0663 to be used with loose coffee A47J31/0689 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/466 Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8046 Pods, i.e. closed containers made only of filter paper or similar material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A system, method and capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product is disclosed. The system comprises an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom, and a lid. The wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. The bottom comprises an entrance area for supplying an amount of a fluid by the fluid dispensing device through the entrance area to the capsule. The lid comprises an exit area for supplying a prepared beverage through the exit area from the capsule to a container. The flow resistance of the entrance area of the capsule is lower than the flow resistance of the exit area.

Claims

1. An exchangeable capsule and apparatus for holding the exchangeable capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption comprising:

an exchangeable capsule, and

an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device constructed to supply an amount of a fluid under pressure to the exchangeable capsule,

wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising an extractable product,

wherein the bottom comprises an entrance area constructed to supply an amount of a fluid by the fluid dispensing device through the entrance area to the extractable product in the inner space of the exchangeable capsule,

wherein the lid comprises an exit layer constructed to supply a prepared beverage through the exit layer from the exchangeable capsule to a container,

wherein, prior to use, a flow resistance of the entrance area of the exchangeable capsule is lower than the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule, and wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule is lower than the flow resistance of the exit layer in cooperation with the extractable product at the exit layer;

wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule increases from the bottom towards the lid, and wherein, prior to use, a first portion of the extractable product is compacted to a first compaction density and a second portion of the extractable product located between the first portion and the lid is compacted to a second compaction density greater than the first compaction density such that the compaction density of the extractable product increases towards the lid.

2. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the entrance area comprises an entrance layer.

3. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the exit layer is substantially in the same plane as the bottom.

4. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the entrance layer of the exchangeable capsule comprises a sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous layer.

5. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the entrance layer comprises a perforate and/or porous filter.

6. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the entrance layer of the exchangeable capsule comprises a filtering paper and/or a polymeric film with a plurality of openings, wherein the exit layer comprises fewer openings than the entrance layer.

7. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the entrance layer of the exchangeable capsule comprises a plurality of openings, wherein the openings are formed such that the flow resistance of the entrance layer is lower than the flow resistance of the exit layer.

8. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exit layer of the exchangeable capsule comprises a sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous layer.

9. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exit layer comprises a perforate and/or porous filter.

10. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exit layer of the exchangeable capsule comprises a filtering paper and/or a polymeric film with a plurality of openings.

11. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exit layer of the exchangeable capsule comprises a plurality of openings, wherein the openings are formed such that prior to use the flow resistance of the entrance area is lower than the flow resistance of the exit layer.

12. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compaction of the extractable product in the exchangeable capsule is such prior to use that the flow resistance of the extractable product increases towards the lid.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the extractable product is compacted into a tablet of which the compaction is such that the flow resistance of the tablet increases towards the lid.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the capsule comprises a plurality of tablets, of which the tablet near the bottom has a lower flow resistance than the tablet near the lid.

15. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance increases continuously from the bottom towards the lid.

16. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance increases stepwise from the bottom towards the lid.

17. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extractable product comprises roasted and ground coffee.

18. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the grain size of the roasted and ground coffee is approximately between 0.2 and 0.4 mm, for approximately 5 grams of ground coffee in the exchangeable capsule.

19. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance of the exit area of the exchangeable capsule is higher than the flow resistance of the extractable product in the capsule.

20. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential wall is substantially rigid.

21. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an alternative capsule different from the exchangeable capsule, said alternative capsule having a lid,

said apparatus further comprising lid piercing means intended for piercing the lid of the alternative capsule, said lid of the alternative capsule being arranged for, during use, being pierced by said lid piercing means,

wherein the exit layer of the lid of the exchangeable capsule is arranged to have a sufficiently high tear strength and/or to be sufficiently stiff for, during use, not to be pierced by the lid piercing means of the apparatus under the influence of the pressure inside the exchangeable capsule.

22. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom and the lid are formed from a metal material.

23. A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, the capsule comprising:

a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,

wherein the bottom comprises an entrance area constructed to supply there through a fluid under pressure to the extractable product for preparing the beverage,

wherein the lid comprises an exit layer constructed to drain there through the prepared beverage from the capsule, and

wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance of the entrance area is lower than the flow resistance in the capsule, and wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the capsule is lower than the flow resistance of the exit layer in cooperation with the extractable product at the exit layer;

wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the capsule increases from the bottom towards the lid, and wherein, prior to use, a first portion of the extractable product is compacted to a first compaction density and a second portion of the extractable product located between the first portion and the lid is compacted to a second compaction density greater than the first compaction density such that the compaction density of the extractable product increases towards the lid.

24. The capsule according to claim 23, wherein the exit layer is arranged to have a sufficiently high tear strength and/or to be sufficiently stiff for, during use, not to be pierced by lid piercing means of an apparatus under influence of pressure inside the capsule.

25. A method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, the method comprising:

providing an exchangeable capsule, comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,

providing an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, a fluid dispensing device constructed to supply an amount of a fluid under pressure to the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet which, in use, is in fluid communication with the exchangeable capsule for draining the prepared beverage from the exchangeable capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup, and

supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage,

wherein the bottom comprises an entrance area through which the fluid can be supplied to the exchangeable capsule,

wherein the lid comprises an exit layer constructed to drain there through the prepared beverage from the exchangeable capsule, and

wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance of the entrance area is lower than the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule, and wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule is less than the flow resistance of the exit layer in cooperation with the extractable product at the exit layer;

wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule increases from the bottom towards the lid, and wherein, prior to use, a first portion of the extractable product is compacted to a first compaction density and a second portion of the extractable product located between the first portion and the lid is compacted to a second compaction density greater than the first compaction density such that the compaction density of the extractable product increases towards the lid.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

providing an alternative capsule different from the exchangeable capsule, said alternative capsule having a lid;

providing the apparatus with lid piercing means intended for piercing the lid of the alternative capsule, said lid of the alternative capsule being arranged for, during use, being pierced by said lid piercing means,

wherein the exit layer of the lid of the exchangeable capsule is arranged to have a sufficiently high tear strength and/or to be sufficiently stiff for, during use, not to be pierced by the lid piercing means of the apparatus under the influence of the pressure inside the capsule.