HK1104957B - An insert, a machine and a system for the preparation of beverages - Google Patents

Description

Insert, machine and system for preparing a beverage

The present invention relates to an insert, a machine and a system for preparing a beverage.

It is known to provide such machines and systems for preparing various beverages such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Typically, the beverage ingredients used in such systems are in loose form or contained in a container. It is known to use flexible containers in certain machines, such as filter paper bags containing roast and ground coffee or leaf tea. It is also known to use, in other machines, cylindrical containers, which may be rigid, semi-rigid or deformable and which are perforated during the preparation of the beverage. In both cases, the machine using such a container is particularly adapted to receive a particular container in the brew head and to pass water and/or a flow of liquid through the container to prepare the beverage which is then dispensed. Such beverage preparation machines may be used in the commercial or domestic market. In the domestic market, consumers do not want to use separate machines for preparing beverages from different beverage component containers or indeed loose beverage components. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an insert, a beverage preparation machine and a beverage preparation system to enable a consumer to use a variety of containers or loose ingredients in a single beverage preparation machine. In one aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide an insert for a beverage preparation machine which is primarily designed for use with rigid, semi-rigid or deformable cartridges which enables the beverage preparation machine to dispense beverage ingredients from deformable containers such as filter bags.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an insert for use in a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head adapted to receive a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge, the brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine and a closure mechanism movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the insert comprising a housing having an opening through which a quantity of beverage ingredient can be loaded into a container, and a seal, wherein, in use, when the insert is inserted into the brew head of the beverage preparation machine and the closure mechanism is moved to a closed position, the seal contacts the brew head and seals against it to close the opening of the container to define a brew chamber containing beverage ingredient, when the insert is inserted into the brew head, the inlet and outlet of the insert communicate with the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the brew head, such that, in use, water from the inlet of the brew head passes upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume and beverage formed from the water and beverage ingredients flows downwardly through the outlet of the insert and out of the outlet of the brew head.

Advantageously, the insert allows a large quantity of beverage ingredients to be dispensed from the beverage preparation machine, which is designed to accommodate rigid, semi-rigid or deformable cartridges in which the beverage ingredients do not need to be contained within the cartridge.

In use, the beverage ingredients loaded into the insert may be loose. For example, loose roasted coffee, ground coffee or leaf tea may be loaded into the insert. In this case, the insert preferably includes a filter between the brewing volume and the outlet of the insert. This prevents the abrasive material or leaves from being dispensed into the cup. The filter may cover the outlet aperture itself.

In another aspect, in use, the beverage component loaded into the insert may be contained in a container comprising a filter. The container may be deformable. The container may be formed at least in part by a filter paper or membrane. Advantageously, the insert may dispense beverage ingredients in filter bags or the like without the need for the filter bag to be correctly matched to the brew head.

In another aspect, the container may be a rigid or semi-rigid cylinder. The cylinder body can be hemispherical, cylindrical, round or square. The insert itself may comprise the cartridge. This allows the beverage preparation machine to utilise cartridges that are not specifically matched to the brew head.

The opening of the container is preferably upwardly directed.

The seal may be mounted on the upper portion of the insert, with the seal preferably being located on the upper edge of the insert. Alternatively, the seal and the container are separate from each other. It is also possible to place the seal in the lower part of the insert.

The sealing member preferably comprises a sealing ring for sealing the periphery of the brewing volume. The seal may be an O-ring.

The seal is preferably made of an elastic material.

The container may be cup-shaped. The cup is preferably upwardly directed when inserted into the brew head, but may also be downwardly directed.

The insert is preferably rigid or semi-rigid such that, in use, the closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine, when closed, squeezes the insert with sufficient force to cause the sealing member to form a seal against the brew head.

The insert may form a seal against the viewing window of the closure mechanism.

The insert is preferably rigid or semi-rigid such that, in use, pressure applied to the insert by a closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine when closed seals a lower surface of the insert against the inlet of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine. The pressure ensures that there is no leakage between the insert and the brew head during dispensing.

The insert may be formed in one piece.

Alternatively, the lower portion of the insert may be formed from more than one piece.

The insert may be disc-shaped.

The insert may be made of plastic.

The inlet and outlet of the insert may be in the same plane. The inlet and outlet of the insert may also be out of the same plane.

The insert may comprise an aperture to receive a window of a barcode reader or RFID reader of the beverage machine when the insert is inserted into the beverage machine.

The orifice may be in the same plane as the inlet and outlet of the insert.

The inlet of the insert is preferably located at or near the periphery of the lower portion and the outlet of the insert is located at the centre of the lower portion. Thus, in use, flow passes through the insert from the inlet to the outlet. In use, flow through the insert is preferentially directed substantially inwardly from the inlet to the outlet. Advantageously the inner flow towards the central outlet enables a compact size of the beverage preparation machine.

The insert further comprises means for screwing the insert to the beverage preparation machine. The rotation means preferably causes the insert to be rotated into a horizontal orientation adjacent the closure mechanism, thereby sealing the lower surface of the insert against the inlet of the brew head. The rotation means may comprise one or more legs which are connected to and rotatable about one or more pivot points of the brew head.

The insert preferably also comprises coding means to control the operation of said beverage preparation machine. The encoding device may include a bar code or a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).

The insert is disposable. The inlet and/or outlet of the insert may be initially closed by a frangible membrane.

Alternatively, the insert may be reusable. The opening of the container can be opened or closed by a lid. The lid and container may be push or pull mounted.

The present invention also provides a beverage preparation system comprising a beverage preparation machine and an insert for use in said machine, said insert being as hereinbefore described. It is advantageous that the beverage preparation machine is particularly compact, since the inflow into the insert is in an upward direction and the outflow is in a downward direction. This eliminates the need to provide the brew head with conduits for water, beverage or power flow, so that the construction of the machine is simplified and the overall height of the machine is reduced.

The beverage preparation machine preferably comprises a brew head adapted to receive a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge, the brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine.

The inlet of the brew head may be located at or near the periphery of the brew head and the outlet of the brew head may be located at the centre of the brew head.

Preferably, after insertion of the insert into the brew head, the inlet and outlet of the insert are located at the top of the upwardly directed inlet and downwardly directed outlet of the brew head.

The brew head of the beverage preparation machine preferably includes a closure mechanism which is movable between an open configuration in which it can be inserted into the brew head, and a closed configuration in which the closure mechanism squeezes the insert with sufficient force such that the sealing member of the insert seals against the brew head to close the opening of the container.

The brew head of the beverage preparation machine preferably comprises a closure mechanism which is movable between an open configuration in which the insert is insertable into the brew head and a closed configuration in which the insert is sealed against the inlet of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine.

In one aspect, the brew head comprises a fixed lower portion and a rotatable upper portion. The fixed lower part comprises the brew head inlet and outlet and the upper part is rotatable between an open position in which the insert can be inserted into the brew head and a closed position in which the insert is engaged between the fixed lower part and the rotatable upper part.

The insert is rotatably connected to the brew head such that rotation of the upper portion of the brew head from the open position to the closed position rotates the insert into contact with the fixed lower portion.

Alternatively, the insert is attached directly to the fixed lower part of the brew head when the upper part of the brew head is in the open position. It is not necessary to attach the insert to the brew head.

The beverage preparation machine may comprise a reader to detect the bar code and Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) located on the insert.

The system may also include a quantity of a beverage component. In one aspect, the beverage ingredients are contained in a container containing a filter device. Can be prepared from a mixture containing roasted coffee, ground coffee, leaf tea, powdered coffee, powdered tea, cream, cappuccino, etc. The beverage component is selected from the group consisting of chocolate drink, liquid chocolate, coffee, tea and milk. The container is formed at least in part by filter paper and a filter membrane.

The present invention also includes a method of dispensing a beverage using a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head adapted to receive rigid and semi-rigid cartridges, the brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine, the method comprising the steps of:

opening a closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine;

inserting an insert into the brew head, the insert being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 40 and comprising a quantity of beverage ingredients;

closing the closure structure to squeeze the insert with sufficient force so that the sealing member of the insert forms a seal against the brew head to close the opening of the container;

operating the beverage preparation machine so that water in the inlet of the brew head flows upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume of the insert;

the beverage formed by the water and the beverage in the brewing chamber is dispensed so that it flows downwardly through the outlet of the insert and the outlet of the brew head.

The insert of the present invention is packaged with one or more beverage ingredients suitable for the construction of the beverage product. The beverage product may be, for example, coffee, tea, chocolate or a dairy drink containing milk. The beverage component may be powdered, ground, leaf-based, or liquid. The beverage component may be insoluble or soluble. Examples include roasted coffee, ground coffee, leaf tea, powdered chocolate, soups, liquid milk-based beverages, carbonated drinks and concentrated fruit juices.

In the following description, the terms "upper" and "lower" and their equivalents will be used to describe relative positional features of the invention. "upper" and "lower" and equivalents thereof are understood to mean that the insert is in its normal orientation for insertion into the beverage preparation machine and subsequent dispensing. Furthermore, the terms "inner" and "outer" and equivalents thereof will be used to describe relative positional features of the invention. "inner" and "outer" and equivalents thereof are understood to refer to relative positions in the insert (or other element) respectively near or far from the center or major axis X of the insert (or other element).

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

figure 1a is a front perspective view of a beverage preparation machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 1b is a front perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1a with the brew head in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1a with certain parts omitted for simplicity;

FIG. 3 is another rear perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1a with certain parts omitted for simplicity;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the brew head of the machine of FIG. 1a with certain parts omitted for simplicity;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the brew head of the machine of FIG. 1a with certain parts omitted for simplicity;

figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the brew head in the closed position;

figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the brew head including the cartridge in an open position;

FIG. 8 is a schematic layout of the machine of FIG. 1 a;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are schematic layouts of the first and second code recognition devices of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a beverage of the present invention including a bar code;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the outer member of the cartridge for use in the beverage preparation machine of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of the outer member of FIG. 11, showing an inwardly directed cylindrical extension;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of the outer member of FIG. 11, showing a slot;

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the outer member of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the outer member of FIG. 11 in an opposite direction;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the outer member of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the barrel inner member;

FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the inner member of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of the inner member of FIG. 17 in an opposite direction;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the inner member of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge in an assembled state;

FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of an insert according to the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view of the insert of FIG. 22 from below;

figure 24 is a sectional view of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine in an open position, illustrating the insert of figure 22 received therein.

Beverage preparation system

Fig. 1a to 9b show a beverage preparation machine 201 of a beverage preparation system according to the invention. The beverage preparation machine 201 basically comprises a housing 210 containing a water tank 220, a water heater 225, a water pump 230, an air compressor 235, a control processor, a user interface 240 and a brew head 250. The brew head 250, in turn, basically comprises a holder 251, identification means 252, inlet piercer 253 and outlet piercer 254.

The beverage preparation machine 201 is designed to dispense beverage ingredients from the cartridge 1 as shown in figures 10 to 21. The brew head 250 is particularly designed to accommodate such cartridges 1 and to dispense the beverage components therein correctly. According to one aspect of the invention, an insert is provided which enables the brew head to dispense beverage ingredients as well, whether in loose form or contained in other containers such as a soft serve. However, to assist in understanding the flexible operation of the beverage preparation machine, an example of the cartridge 1 will first be described, and its use in the beverage preparation machine 201 has been described before describing the insert.

Cartridge for a system

As shown in fig. 10 to 21, the cartridge 1 basically comprises an outer member 2, an inner member 3 and a laminate 5. The outer member 2, inner member 3 and laminate 5 are assembled to form cartridge 1, the cartridge 1 having an interior 120 for containing one or more beverage components, an inlet 121, an outlet 122 and a beverage flow path extending through the interior 120 and connecting the inlet 121 to the outlet 122. The inlet 121 and outlet 122 are initially sealed by the laminate 5 and are opened in use by piercing or cutting the laminate 5. The space of the outer member 2, inner member 3 and laminate 5 in-line defines a beverage flow path, as described below. The cartridge 1 may optionally contain other elements, such as a filter 4, as will be described further below.

The cartridge 1 is specifically designed for dispensing filtered products such as roast and ground coffee or leaf tea. The cartridge 1 may also be used for other products such as chocolate, coffee, tea, sweeteners, cordials, flavourings, alcoholic beverages, flavoured milk, fruit juices, squash, soy sauce and desserts.

As can be seen from fig. 15, the overall shape of the cylinder 1 is substantially circular or disc-shaped, the diameter of the cylinder being much greater than its height. As shown in fig. 11, the major axis X passes through the center of the outer member. Typically the outer member 2 has an overall diameter of 74.5mm 6mm and an overall height of 16mm 3 mm. The volume of the assembled cartridge 1 is typically 30.2ml ± 20%.

The outer member 2 basically comprises a bowl-shaped housing 10 with a curved annular wall 13, a closed top 11 and an open bottom 12. The outer member 2 has a smaller diameter at the top 11 than at the bottom due to the flaring of the annular wall 13 as it traverses from the closed top 11 to the open bottom 12. The annular wall 13 and the closed bottom 11 together define a pocket having an interior 34.

On the closed top 11, centred on the main axis X, there is a cylindrical extension 18 with a hollow inner finger. As can be seen more clearly in fig. 12, the cylindrical extension 18 comprises a stepped profile having first, second and third sections 19, 20 and 21. The first section 19 is of upright cylindrical shape. The second section 20 is frusto-conical and tapers inwardly. The third section 21 is also an upright cylinder and is separated by an underside 31. The first, second and third sections 19, 20 and 21 are incrementally reduced in diameter so that the diameter of the cylindrical extension 18 decreases as one traverses from the top portion 11 to the closed lower face 31 of the cylindrical extension 18. A shoulder 32 is generally formed on the cylindrical extension 18 at the junction of the second and third sections 20 and 21.

An outwardly projecting shoulder 33 is formed on the outer member 2 towards the base 12. The outwardly projecting shoulder 33 forms a secondary wall 15 coaxial with the annular wall 13, so as to define an annular path between the secondary wall 15 and the annular wall 13 forming a duct 16. The duct 16 surrounds the periphery of the outer member 2. A series of slots 17 are provided in the annular wall 13 at the same level as the duct 16 to allow gas and liquid communication between the duct of the outer member 2 and the interior 34. As shown in fig. 13, the slot 17 comprises a vertical slit in the annular wall 13. 20-40 slots are provided. In the illustrated embodiment there are 37 slots 17 which are substantially equally spaced around the circumference of the pipe 16. The slots 17 are preferably spaced 1.4mm to 1.8mm apart in length. Typically each slot is 1.6mm in length, 10% of the overall height of the outer member 2. The width of each slot is between 0.25-0.35 mm. Typically, the width of each slot is 0.3 mm. The width of the slot 17 is sufficiently narrow to prevent beverage ingredients from passing into the duct 16 during storage and use.

An inlet chamber 26 is formed in the periphery of the outer member. As best shown in fig. 15, the cylindrical wall 27 defines the inlet chamber 26 within the interior 34 of the outer member 2 and isolates it from the interior 34. The cylindrical wall 27 has a closed top surface 28 and an open lower end 29, the closed top surface 28 being in a plane perpendicular to the main axis X, the open lower end 29 being in the same plane as the bottom 12 of the outer member 2. As shown in fig. 11, the inlet chamber 26 communicates with the duct 16 through two slots 30. Alternatively, the conduit 16 and the inlet chamber 26 may be associated with one to four slots.

The lower end of the outwardly projecting shoulder 33 is fitted with an outwardly projecting flange 35, the outwardly projecting flange 35 extending in a direction perpendicular to the main axis X. Typically the width of the flange 35 is 2-4 mm. A portion of the flange 35 is enlarged to form a handle 24, and the outer member 2 is fixed by the handle 24. The handle 24 is equipped with an upturn to improve grip.

The outer member 2 is made of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester or a sheet of two or more of these materials in a single integral piece. Suitable polyethylenes are available from the polymer range of DSMUKLimited (Redditch, United Kingdom). The outer member may be opaque, transparent or translucent. The manufacturing method may be an injection molding method.

As shown in fig. 17-20, the inner member 3 includes an annular frame 41 and a lower cylindrical funnel 40. As shown in fig. 17, the main axis X passes through the center of the inner member 3.

As best seen in FIG. 18, the annular frame 41 includes an outer rim 51 and an inner hub 52 connected by ten equally spaced radial spokes 53. Filtration apertures 55 are formed in the annular frame 41 between the radial spokes 53. A filter 4 is disposed on the ring frame 41 to cover the filter holes 55. The filter is preferably made of a material with high wet strength, such as a non-woven polyester fiber material. Other useful materials are water impermeable cellulosic materials such as fibrous materials including woven paper fibers. The woven paper fibers may be doped with polypropylene fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers and/or polyethylene fibers. These plastic materials are synthesized into cellulose so that the cellulose material can be heat-sealed. The filter 4 may also be treated or coated with a heat and/or pressure activated material so that it can be sealed to the annular frame 41 in this manner.

As shown in the cross-sectional profile of FIG. 17, the inner hub 52 is mounted at a lower level than the outer rim 51 so that the annular frame 41 has a low slope profile.

The upper surface of each spoke 53 is fitted with an upstanding web 54, the web 54 dividing the filter chamber in the annular frame 41 into a plurality of channels 57. The respective face of each channel is bounded by a web 54, the underside of which is bounded by the filter 4. The channel 57 extends downwardly from the outer rim 51 and splits to an opening 56 of the cylindrical funnel 40, the opening 56 being defined by the inner periphery of the web 54.

The cylindrical funnel 40 includes an outer tube 42, the outer tube 42 enclosing the inner spout. The outer tube 42 forms the exterior of the cylindrical funnel 40. The tip 43 is connected to the outer tube 42 at the upper end of the tip 43 by an annular flange 47. The spout 43 has an inlet 45 at its upper end and an outlet 44 at its lower end, the inlet 45 being in communication with the opening 56 of the passage 57 for pouring the prepared beverage through the outlet 44 into a cup or other container. The discharge spout 43 includes a frustoconical section 48 at an upper end and a cylindrical section 58 at a lower end. The cylindrical section 58 may be slightly tapered so that it tapers toward the outlet 44. The frusto-conical section 48 helps to direct the beverage from the channel 57 down to the outlet 44 without causing turbulence in the beverage. The upper surface of the frusto-conical section 48 is provided with four support plates 49 which are equally spaced around the periphery of the cylindrical funnel 40. The support plates 49 define a channel 50 therebetween. The upper edges of the supporting plates 49 are level with each other and perpendicular to the main axis X.

The inner member 3 may be made in one single piece from polypropylene or similar material as described above and may be made by injection moulding as is the case for the outer member 2.

Alternatively, the inner member 2 and/or the outer member 2 may be made of a biodegradable polymer. Exemplary suitable materials are degradable polyethylenes (e.g., SPITEK supplied by Symphony Environmental, Borehamwood, UK), biodegradable polyesteramides (e.g., BAK1095 supplied by Symphony Environmental), polylactic acid (PLA supplied by Cargil, Minnesota, USA), starch-based polymers, cellulose derivatives, and polypeptides.

The laminate 5 is formed from two layers, a first layer of aluminium and a second layer of cast polypropylene. The thickness of the aluminum layer is 0.02-0.07mm, and the thickness of the cast polypropylene is 0.025 mm. Such a laminate is particularly advantageous because it has a high bending resistance during assembly. The laminate 5 can thus be pre-cut to the correct size and shape and subsequently transferred to the assembly station of the production line without distortion. The laminate is therefore particularly suitable for casting. Other materials such as ethylene terephthalate/aluminum/polypropylene, polyethylene/EVOH/polypropylene, ethylene terephthalate/metalized/polypropylene and aluminum/polypropylene laminates may also be used. Rolled stock may be used in place of die cut stock.

The cartridge 1 may be closed by a rigid or semi-rigid cover rather than a flexible laminate.

The assembly of the cartridge 1 involves the following steps:

a) inserting the inner member 3 into the outer member 2;

b) the filter 4 is cut to shape and put on the inner element 3 to rest on the cylindrical funnel 40 and on the annular frame 41;

c) connecting the inner member 3, the outer member 4 and the filter 4 by ultrasonic welding;

d) filling the cartridge 1 with one or more beverage ingredients;

e) the laminate 5 is fixed to the outer member 2.

These steps will be discussed in detail below.

The outer member 2 is oriented with the open bottom 12 facing upwardly. The inner member 3 is then inserted into the outer member 2 and the outer rim 51 is loosely fitted over the axial extension 14 of the top portion 11 of the cartridge 1. While the cylindrical extension 18 of the outer member 2 is received in the upper part of the cylindrical funnel 40 of the inner member 3. The third section 21 of the cylindrical extension 18 is located within the cylindrical funnel and the closed lower face 31 of the cylindrical extension 18 presses against the support plate of the inner member 3. The filter is then placed on the inner member 3 so that the filter material contacts the rim 51. The filter 4 is then attached to the inner element 3 by ultrasonic welding, while the inner element 3 is also attached to the outer element 2 in the same process step. The inner member 3 is welded to the filter 4 around the outer rim 51. The inner member 3 is joined to the outer member 2 by a weld seam around the outer edge 51 and the upper edge of the web 54.

As best seen in fig. 21, the joined outer and inner members 2, 3 define a void region 130 with the exterior of the cylindrical funnel 40 below the annular flange 41 within the interior 120, the void region 130 forming a filter chamber. The filter chamber 130 is separated from the passage 57 above the annular shelf 41 by the filter paper 4.

The filter cavity 130 contains one or more beverage ingredients 200. One or more beverage ingredients are loaded into the filter chamber 130. As a filtered beverage, the ingredient is typically roasted coffee, ground coffee or leaf tea. The packing density of the beverage component in the filter chamber 130 can be varied as desired. For filtered coffee products, the filter chamber typically contains 5.0-10.2 grams of roast and ground coffee in a 5-14mm thick filter layer. The interior 120 may optionally contain one or more objects, such as spheres, that are free to move within the interior 120 to assist in mixing by agitating and breaking up deposits of beverage components as the beverage is discharged.

The laminate 5 is fixed to the outer member 2 by attaching the laminate 5 to the lower surface of the outwardly projecting flange 35 by forming a weld 126 at the periphery of the laminate 5. The weld 126 extends to seal the laminate 5 to the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 27 of the inlet chamber 26. Also, a weld 125 is formed between the laminate 5 and the lower edge of the outer tube 42 of the cylindrical funnel 40. The laminate 5 forms the bottom wall of the filter chamber 130 and seals the inlet chamber 26 from the cylindrical funnel 40. However, before dispensing, a small gap 123 exists between the laminate 5 and the lower edge of the discharge spout 43. Depending on the material properties of the laminate 5, various welding methods may be used, such as heat welding and ultrasonic welding.

Advantageously, the inner member 3 spans between the outer member 2 and the laminate 5. The interior is formed of a relatively rigid material such as polypropylene. Thus, when the cartridge 1 is compressed, the inner member 3 forms a load bearing member which spaces the laminate 5 from the outer member 2. In use the cartridge 1 is preferably ballasted by 130 and 280 newtons. The pressure serves to prevent the cartridge from failing under internal pressurisation and also to press the inner member 3 and outer member 2 together. This ensures that the internal dimensions of the channel and orifice are fixed and do not change when the cartridge 1 is pressurised.

To use the cartridge 1, it is first inserted into the beverage preparation machine and the inlet 121 and outlet 122 are opened by the piercing member of the beverage preparation machine which pierces and folds back the laminate 5. An aqueous medium under pressure, typically water, enters the barrel 1 through the inlet 121 into the inlet chamber 26 at a pressure of between 0.1 and 2 bar. From there the water is directed to flow through the slots 30, around the pipe 16 and through the plurality of slots 17 into the filter chamber 130 of the cartridge 1. The water is forced radially inward through the filter cavity 130 and mixes with the beverage ingredients 200 contained therein. While forcing water upwardly through the beverage ingredients. The beverage formed by the passage of water through the beverage component passes through the filter 4 and the filter holes 55 and enters the channels 57 provided on the annular frame 41. The sealing of the filter 4 against the spokes 53 and the welding of the rim 51 to the outer member 2 ensure that no short circuits can occur and that all the beverage has to pass through the filter 4.

The beverage then flows down the radial channels 57 between the webs 54, through the openings 56 and into the cylindrical funnel 40. The beverage passes along the channel 50 between the support plates 47, down through the discharge spout 43 and to the outlet 44, where it is discharged into a container such as a cup.

The beverage preparation machine preferably comprises an air washer in which compressed air is forced through the cartridge 1 at the end of a dispensing cycle to flush the remaining beverage completely into the receptacle.

The cartridge 1 described above is an example of a cartridge with which a brew head of a beverage preparation machine can dispense. Other similar cartridges may be used to dispense other types of beverages such as foamed milk, espresso, chocolate drinks.

Beverage preparation machine

As shown in fig. 1a, the housing 210 houses and holds the other elements of the machine 201 in place. The housing 210 is preferably made in whole or in part of a hard plastic such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Alternatively, the housing 210 may be made in whole or in part of a metallic material such as stainless steel or aluminum. The housing 210 preferably includes a clam-shell design having a front half 211 and a rear half 212 that, when assembled, allow the machine 201 components to enter for installation and then can be joined together to define an interior 213 of the housing 210. The rear half 212 is formed with a recess 214 for connection to a water tank 220. The housing 210 has detents, abutments, hubs and threaded portions to hold the elements of the machine 201 in place without the need for a separate chassis. This reduces the overall cost and weight of the machine 201. The bottom 215 of the housing 210 is preferably provided with feet to allow the machine to stand stably. Alternatively, the base 215 itself may have a shape that is stably supported.

The front half 211 of the housing 210 includes a dispensing station 270 for dispensing the beverage. The dispensing station 271 comprises a container holder 271, the hollow interior of which forms a drip tray 272. The upper surface 273 of the container stand is provided with a grill 274 on which the containers are placed. The drip tray 272 may be removed from the housing 210 to empty the accumulated water. A recess 275 is provided in the front half of the housing 210 above the receptacle holder 271 to accommodate the size of the receptacle.

As shown in figures 1a and 1b, the brew head 250 is located above the container holder and towards the top of the housing 210. The height of the grill 274 relative to the brew head 250 is preferably adjustable to accommodate different sized containers. The containers are preferably located as close to the brew head 250 as possible when they are inserted into or withdrawn from the dispensing station 270, thereby minimising the height to which the dispensed beverage must descend before contacting the containers. This minimizes splashing of the beverage and loss of adulterated bubbles. A container having a height of 70mm to 110mm may preferably be inserted between the grill 274 and the brew head 250.

The machine user interface 240 is located on the front of the housing 210 and includes an on/off button 241, a plurality of status indicators 243 and 246.

Status indicators 243-246 preferably include a Light Emitting Diode (LED) to indicate the readiness of machine 201. One LED 244 may indicate whether an error in the operation of the machine 201 has occurred and one or more LEDs 243 and 246 may indicate whether the machine 201 is operating in the manual mode or the automatic mode. The leds 243-246 may be controlled to illuminate at a constant intensity, to flash intermittently, or both, depending on the state of the machine 201. The leds can be in various colors, such as green, red, and yellow.

The on/off button 241 controls the initiation of the dispense cycle and may be a manual button, switch or the like.

A volume adjustment control may be provided to enable a user of the machine 201 to manually adjust the volume of beverage delivered without changing other operating characteristics. The volume adjustment control preferentially adjusts about 20% of the volume. The volume adjustment button may be a knob, a linear slider, a digital readout with an increment or decrement button, or others. More often, the user adjusts the volume by operating the on/off button 241.

A manual power switch (not shown) may be provided on the machine 201. Alternatively, the power supply is controlled solely by the insertion or removal of the power supply plug from the mains electricity supply.

The water tank 220 is located at the rear of the housing 210 and is connected to the rear half 212 of the housing 210. The water tank 220 includes a generally cylindrical body 221. the cylindrical body 221 may be a right circular or frustum shape, depending on aesthetic considerations. The reservoir has an inlet for water and is closed in use by a manually removable cover 222. Towards the lower end of the tank is provided an outlet which is in communication with a water pump 230. The water tank 220 may be made of a transparent or translucent material to enable a consumer to view the amount of water remaining in the tank. Alternatively, the water tank 220 may be made of an opaque material, but must be provided with a detection hole. Further, instead of the above, the water tank 220 may be provided with a low level sensor that prevents the water pump 230 from operating and selectively activates an alarm such as a light emitting diode when the water level in the tank is below a predetermined level. The water tank 220 preferably has an internal capacity of 1.5 liters.

As schematically shown in fig. 8, a water pump 230 is operatively connected between the water tank 220 and the water heater 225 and is controlled by the control processor. The pump provides a maximum flow rate of 900 ml/min of water at a maximum pressure of 2.5 bar. In normal use, the pressure is preferably limited to 2 bar. The flow rate of water through the machine 201 is controlled by the control processor to a percentage of the maximum flow rate of the pump by cyclically cutting off the power supply to the pump. Preferably, the pump is driven at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% of the highest flow rate. The accuracy of the volume of water extracted is preferably ± 5%, so that the accuracy of the final volume of beverage dispensed is also ± 5%. A suitable pump is the modified (RTM) EP8 pump manufactured by Ulka s.r.l. (Pavia, Italy). A volumetric flow sensor (not shown) is preferably provided in the flow line upstream or downstream of the water pump 230. The volumetric flow sensor is preferably a rotary sensor.

A water heater 225 is located within the interior of the housing 210. The heater 225 has a power rating of 1550W and is capable of heating water from the water pump 230 to an initial temperature of about 20 c to an operating temperature of about 85 c in one minute. The delay time between one dispense cycle and the heater 225 being able to initiate a subsequent dispense cycle is less than ten seconds. The heater maintains the selected temperature within a tolerance of + -2 deg.C during the dispense cycle. The temperature of the water delivered to the brew head 250 for the dispense cycle time may be 83 ℃ or 93 ℃. The heater 225 is capable of quickly adjusting the delivery temperature from a nominal temperature of 85 c to 83 c or 93 c. The heater 225 has an over-temperature cutoff which turns off the heater when the temperature exceeds 98 c. The water output from the heater 225 is supplied to the brew head 250 by means of a three-way valve. If the pressure of the water flow is acceptable, water is fed into the cartridge 1. If the pressure is below or above a predetermined limit, the three-way valve is used to divert water to the drip tray recovery reservoir 270.

An air compressor 235 is operatively connected to the brew head 250 with a one-way valve and is controlled by the control processor. The air compressor 235 provides a maximum flow rate of air of 500 ml/min at a pressure of 1.0 bar. In use a working volume of 35 ml is pressurised to 2.0 bar. The air compressor 235 preferably produces two flow rates: fast (maximum) flow rate and slow flow rate.

The control processor of the beverage preparation machine 201 comprises a module and a memory. The control processor is operatively connected to and controls the water heater 225, the water pump 230, the air compressor 235 and the user interface 240.

The memory of the control processor contains one or more variables relating to one or more operating parameters of the beverage preparation machine 201. The operating parameters are the temperature of the water passing through the beverage preparation machine 1 during the operating phase, the loading speed of the beverage cartridge 1, the presence or absence of a wetting step, the total dispensed volume of the beverage, the flow rate of the water during the draining phase and the flow rate and period of the washing phase.

Variables for the operating parameters are stored in memory. A code is provided on or in the cartridge 1 to indicate operating parameters for optimal dispensing of the beverage in the cartridge 1. The code is in binary format and includes a plurality of bits corresponding to variables stored in the control processor memory.

Figures 4 to 7 show a brew head 250. The holder 251 of the brew head 250 comprises a fixed lower part 255, a rotatable upper part 256 and a rotatable cartridge support 257, the rotatable cartridge support 257 being located between the fixed lower part 255 and the rotatable upper part 256. The upper part 256, lower part 255 and the cartridge holder rotate about a common hinge axis 258. The holder 251 with some of the elements of the machine 201 shown in figures 4 to 7 has been omitted to simplify the drawing.

The rotatable upper portion 256 and the rotatable cartridge mount 257 are moved relative to the fixed lower portion 255 by a clamping mechanism 280. The clamping mechanism 280 includes a clamping lever having first and second members or components 281 and 282. The first part 281 of the clamping lever comprises a U-shaped arm which is screwed to the upper part 256 at two first pivot points 283, one on each side of the holder 251.

The second portion of the clamp bar includes two eccentric cross arms 282 disposed on either side of the clamp 251, the eccentric cross arms 282 rotatably attached to the upper portion 256 at second pivot points 285 on hinge axis 258, respectively, the hinge axis 258 connecting the upper portion 256 to the fixed lower portion 255. Each overcenter crossbar 282 is a reciprocating member comprising a cylinder 282a, a rod 282b and a resilient sleeve 282 c. The cylinder 282a has an inner bore with one end rotatably connected to the hinge shaft 258. A rod 282b is slidably mounted within the bore of cylinder 282 a. The opposite end of the lever 282b is pivotally connected to the U-shaped arm 281 at a third pivot point. The third pivot points 286 are not connected to the upper and lower portions 256, 255 and are free to move relative thereto. A resilient sleeve 282c is externally mounted on the rod 282b and extends, in use, between the abutment surface of the cylinder 282a and the rod 282 b. The resilient sleeve 282c accommodates the shortening of the over-center cross arm 282 but biases it into an extended configuration. The third pivot point 286 is movable toward or away from the hinge axis 258 by relative movement of the rod 282b within the cylinder 282 a. The elastic sleeve 282c is preferably formed of silicon. While the illustrated embodiment employs two over-center crossbars 282, it should be apparent that only one over-center crossbar 282 may be used in the closure mechanism configuration.

The U-shaped arm 281 surrounds the front of the holder 251 and comprises two downwardly depending hook members 287, one on each side of the holder 251, each having a cam surface 288 facing the hinge axis 258. The fixed lower portion 255 of the holder 251 is provided with two bosses 259 or detents located at or near the front edge 260 of the lower portion 255 generally level with the hook members 287.

As shown in fig. 4, the U-shaped arm 281 may be formed from a one-piece injection molded article that includes an ergonomic hand grip and hook members 287 coupled to the arm.

The cartridge mount 257 is rotatably coupled between the upper 255 and lower 256 portions of the holder 251. The mount 257 is provided with a generally circular recess 290, the recess 290 receiving the beverage cartridge 1 in use. The recess 290 contains an irregularity 291 to accommodate the handle portion 24 of the beverage cartridge 1 and prevent rotation of the beverage cartridge 1 in the holder 251. The cartridge mount is resilient relative to the fixed lower part 255 such that in the open position, as shown in figure 7, the cartridge mount 257 is biased out of contact with the fixed lower part 255 such that the cartridge mount 257 moves out of contact with the outlet and inlet perforated members 254, 253. The cartridge mount 257 is provided with an opening 292, the opening 292 configured to receive the penetration of the inlet and outlet piercers 253,254 and the head 300 of the cartridge identification device 252 as the cartridge mount 257 moves into the closed position.

The upper portion 255 includes a generally circular body 310 that houses a circular viewing window 312 through which the beverage cartridge 1 can be viewed during a dispensing cycle and also visually determine whether the cartridge has been loaded into the machine 201. The viewing window 312 is cup-shaped with a lower finger edge 311. The viewing window 312 is axially movable relative to the body 310 of the upper part 255. One arrangement for effecting relative movement is to provide a wave spring (not shown), or similar resilient means such as a rubber ring, disposed between the viewing window 312 and the circular body 310. In another arrangement, a series of helical compression springs (not shown) are mounted between the viewing window 312 and the body 310. In both cases, the resilient means allows a small axial movement of the viewing window 312 relative to the circular body 310.

When the holder 251 is in the closed position, the viewing window 312 is squeezed against the beverage cartridge 1, biasing it towards the lower portion 256. In one arrangement, the edge 311 of the viewing window contacts and presses against the flange 35 of the beverage cartridge. While the window 312 contacts the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1. In another arrangement, only the viewing window 312 contacts the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1, with no contact between the rim 311 and the flange 35. The pressure exerted by the edge 311 on the flange 35 and/or the pressure exerted by the window 312 on the closed top 11 ensures a fluid-tight seal between the cartridge 1 and the holder 251.

The lower portion 255 includes inlet and outlet piercers 253, 254 and a head 300 of a cartridge recognition device 252. The inlet piercer 253 comprises a hollow needle tube 260, the hollow needle tube 260 having a tip 261 for piercing the laminate 5 of the beverage cartridge 1 in use. As shown in fig. 7, the inlet piercer 253 is in fluid communication with a water pipe 262, which pipe 262 extends through the lower portion 255 and is connected to an outlet pipe 263 of the water heater 225. The outlet piercer 254 is similar in form to the outlet piercers described in the applicant's european patents EP0389141 and EP0334572 and comprises an open-ended cylindrical barrel 264 of circular or D-shaped cross-section and having dimensions greater than those of the discharge spout 43. The arcuate portion 265 of the upper end of the outlet piercer 254 is serrated to pierce and eventually cut the laminate of the beverage cartridge 1. The remainder of the upper end is rounded and axially reduced at least to the root of the serrations 266 of the serrated portion to fold or pull the cut laminate 5 away from the outlet orifice as the beverage is dispensed therein. The outlet piercer 254 pierces the laminate 5 outside the discharge spout 43 and rests against the annulus between the discharge spout 43 and the outer wall 42 of the discharge channel 40 when the cartridge mount 257 is in the closed position. The exit piercer 254 folds the cut laminate 105 back into the annulus. So that the outlet piercer 254 and the cut laminate 105 can be kept clear of the discharged beverage.

The outlet piercer 254 is surrounded by a protruding rim 254a which is relatively high up to about 0.5mm from the periphery.

The outlet piercer 254 is advantageously removable from the lower part 255 for thorough cleaning thereof, for example in a dishwasher. The removable outlet piercer 254 is received in a recess 267 in the lower part 255. The inlet piercer 253 and/or the outlet piercer 254 may be made of a metal, such as stainless steel, or a plastic material. Advantageously, by using the laminate 5 so that a plastic cutting element can be used, the laminate 5 can be perforated and cut with a non-metallic material. Thus, the piercers 253, 254 can be made less sharp to reduce the risk of injury to the consumer. Furthermore, plastic piercing elements are not prone to rusting. The inlet piercer 253 and the outlet piercer 24 are preferably formed as a single, integral part, which can be removed from the lower part 255.

In use, the upper portion 256 of the holder 251 is movable from an open position, in which the holder 256 is oriented vertically or towards the vertical as shown in FIG. 1b, to a closed position, in which the upper portion 256 is oriented substantially horizontally and which engages the fixed lower portion 255 with the cartridge mount 257. The upper portion 256 can be moved from the open position to the closed position by operating the clamp lever. To close the upper portion 256, the user grasps the U-shaped arm 281 of the clamping lever and pulls it downward. Thus, rotation of the upper portion 256 first brings the rim 311 of the viewing window into contact with the flange 35 of the beverage cartridge 1 at the cartridge mount 257 and/or the window 312 itself into contact with the closed top of the cartridge 1. Continued rotation of the upper portion 256 rotates the upper portion 256 and cartridge mount 257 downward into contact with the lower portion 255. Further rotation of the U-shaped arm 281 causes the U-shaped arm 281 to rotate relative to the upper and lower portions 256, 255 such that the hook members 287 of the upper portion 256 engage the bosses of the lower portion 255 and the cam surface 288 rides on the bosses 259. At the end of this rotation, the cartridge 1 is compressed between the cartridge mount 257 and the viewing window 312. Thus, the viewing window 312 is axially displaced relative to the circular body 310 of the upper portion 256 against the biasing force of the wave or coil spring. Such movement allows for shrinkage of tolerances in the beverage cartridge 1 and the beverage preparation machine and ensures that the compression force applied to the cartridge remains within an acceptable range. The clamping force of the mechanism, which is moderated by the wave spring or helical spring, ensures a clamping pressure on the barrel. For arrangements in which a compressive force acts on the flange 35 and the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1, it is known that pressures between 130 and 280 newton are required. The force is preferably about 200 newtons. Forces less than 130 newtons may not provide an adequate seal, while forces greater than 280 newtons may result in plastic failure of the cartridge 1 components. For arrangements in which only a compressive force acts on the closed top 11 of the cartridge 1, it is known that pressures of between 50 and 280 newton are required. It will be noted that this arrangement allows lower pressure levels to be applied without adversely affecting the sealing of the cartridge 1. During closure of the brew head, when the laminate 5 of the cartridge body 1 comes into contact with the rim 254a surrounding the outlet piercer 254, the laminate 5 of the cartridge body 1 is stretched such that the laminate 5 springs out of plane, as the distal end of the outer tube 42 of the cylindrical funnel is displaced upwardly by 0.5mm relative to the flange 35. This movement also ensures that the compressive force applied to the cartridge passes through the central portion of the cartridge 1 via the load bearing inner member 3. In the closed position, the cartridge 1 is clamped around the flange 35 by the rim 311 of the viewing window 312 and the cartridge 1 is securely clamped between the closed top 11 of the cartridge and the outer tube 42 of the inner member 3 by contact with the viewing window 312 and the projection 254 a. These clamping forces help to avoid failure of the cartridge 1 when pressurised and ensure that the inner and outer members 3, 2 are adequately seated with respect to each other and also that all internal passages and orifices are able to maintain their intended dimensions when internally pressurised.

An imaginary datum line may be drawn between the first and second pivot points 283,285 of the holder 251. As can be seen from fig. 7, in the open position, the third pivot point 286 is located on the side of the datum line closest to the fixed lower portion 255. When the upper portion 256 reaches the closed position, the third pivot point 286 of the clamping lever may pass furthest from the fixed lower portion 25 through the datum line connecting the first and second pivot points 283,285 to opposite ends of the datum line. Thus, the U-shaped arm 281 "snaps through" from the second stable position to the second stable position. The pop-through action can be accommodated by shortening the over-center bridge 282 and compressing the resilient sleeve 282 c. After the third pivot point 286 passes the imaginary datum line, the restoring action of the resilient sleeve 282c continues to move it away from the imaginary datum line. The clamping lever thus has a bi-stable operation in that the lever is stable in the open or closed position, but unstable when the third pivot point 286 is located on an imaginary datum line connecting the first and second pivot points 283,285. The snap-through action of the clamping lever thus provides a positive closure mechanism resulting in a positive closure action, wherein at the final stage of rotation of the clamping lever, the snap-through action of the U-shaped arm 281 and the second arm 284 forces the hook members 287 firmly into engagement with the bosses 259. In addition, the resilient sleeve 282c will prevent re-opening of the upper portion 256 because a minimum force is required to compress the sleeve 282c sufficiently to move the third pivot point 286 back into the datum line connecting the first and third pivot points 283,285. Advantageously, the interengagement of the hook members 287 and the bosses 259 prevents the upper and lower portions from separating rather than the rotation of the clamping lever. This will help to avoid opening of the brew head during operation when the brew head 250 is internally pressurised.

The purpose of the identification means 252 is to enable the machine 201 to identify the type of beverage cartridge 1 that has been inserted and to adjust one or more operating parameters accordingly. In an exemplary embodiment, the identification device 252 includes an optical bar code reader that reads the bar code 320 printed on the laminate 5 of the beverage cartridge 1. The encoding is preferentially black-on-white to maximize contrast. The bar code 320 is not required to comply with certain printing standards, but certain bar code standard formats may be used, such as EAN-13, UPC-A or Interleaf 2 of 5. The optical bar code reader includes one or more leds 321 to illuminate the bar code 320, a focusing lens 322 to acquire an image of the bar code, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD)323 to generate electrical signals for the acquired image, and ancillary circuitry for the leds and the charge coupled device. The space in the lower part for accommodating the bar code reader is limited. One or more mirrors 324 may be used to reflect light from the leds 321 to a focusing lens that is not located in the lower portion 255. Fig. 9a and 9b are schematic configurations. The lower portion 255 includes an aperture 326 that is as large as the barcode 320 on the beverage cartridge 1. The aperture 326 is closed by a window, preferably glass, which is capable of transmitting the signal generated by the bar code reader. In use, the resulting electrical signals are deciphered by signal processing software and the results forwarded to a control processor. The software can identify whether the bar code reading is erroneous or not. The barcode 320 may be rescanned several times before the error message is presented to the consumer. If the machine 201 is unable to read the bar code, the consumer may dispense the beverage with the beverage cartridge 1 in a manual mode of operation. Alternatively, the cartridge 1 may include an RFID code for reading by an RFID reader.

The brew head 250 may include a cartridge sensor to detect whether a cartridge is in the holder 251.

The brew head 250 may also include a lock sensor to detect whether the holder 251 is properly closed. The locking sensor preferably comprises a microswitch which is activated when the holder 251 is closed and locked. The cartridge sensor is preferably connected to the lock sensor such that the output of both sensors is positively satisfactory, i.e. the presence of the cartridge and locking of the mechanism, before the dispensing cycle is initiated.

The operation of the machine 201 includes: the beverage cartridge 1 is inserted into the brew head 250, a dispense cycle is performed containing the dispensing of the beverage and the cartridge 1 is removed from the machine.

The operational behavior of the machine 201 is determined by software embedded in the control processor.

To insert the cartridge 1, the holder 251 is opened to expose the cartridge mount 257 as described above. The cartridge 1 is then placed in the recess 290 of the cartridge mount 257 so that the handle 24 of the cartridge is located in the irregularity 291. The optical or magnetic barcode 320 of the cartridge 1 is positioned directly over the aperture 326 in the cartridge mount 257. The gripper 251 is then closed by operating the clamping lever as described above. During closing, the inlet and outlet piercers 253 and 254 pierce the laminate 5 of the cartridge 1 to form the cartridge inlet 121 and outlet 122. The laminate 5 cut by the outlet piercer 254 is folded into an annulus around the discharge spout 43, as described above. When the holder 251 grips the cartridge 1 around the rim 35 between the cartridge mount 257 and the upper portion 256 and/or the rim 35 between the window 311 and the top 11 of the cartridge 1, a sufficient overall liquid seal is formed to withstand the pressure build-up during dispensing.

The consumer operates the start/stop button 241 to initiate a duty cycle.

The working cycle comprises a cylinder identification step and a discharge cycle step.

Assuming that the outputs of the cartridge sensor and the lock sensor are satisfactory, cartridge recognition is performed by the optical recognition device 252 as described above. Once the barcode 320 or RFID is deciphered, the operating parameters of the machine 201 are adjusted by the control processor. The discharge cycle is then automatically initiated.

The discharge cycle includes four main steps, not all beverage types being used for all steps:

(i) pre-wetting

(ii) Pausing

(iii) Brewing/mixing

(iv) Cleaning of

In the pre-wetting stage, the water in the water storage tank 220 is filled in the cartridge 1 by the water pump 230. The water wets the beverage component 200 in the filter chamber 130. The water rate may be a "fast" flow of 600 ml/min or a "slow" flow of 325 ml/min. Slow loading rates are particularly useful for cartridges containing viscous fluid beverage components that require some dilution before being drawn at higher volumetric flow rates. The volume of water injected into the cartridge 1 is selected to ensure that water or beverage does not drip out of the cartridge outlet 122 at this stage.

The pause stage allows the beverage ingredients 200 to be wetted in the water injected during the pre-wetting stage for a predetermined time. The pre-wetting step is known to increase the amount of extraction from the beverage components 200 and improve the final flavor of the beverage. The pre-wetting and soaking steps are particularly useful when the beverage components are roast and ground coffee.

During the brewing/mixing stage, water is passed through the cartridge 1 to produce a beverage from the beverage component 200. The temperature of the water is determined by the control processor which sends instructions to the water heater 225 to heat the water flowing from the water storage tank 220 to the brew head 250. Water passes through the conduit 262, through the inlet valve and inlet piercer 253, and into the inlet chamber 126 of the beverage cartridge 1. Brewing and/or mixing and subsequent dispensing of the beverage in the beverage cartridge 1 is as described above and with reference to the version of the beverage cartridge 1.

The air purge comprises compressed air blown through the beverage preparation machine and the beverage cartridge 1 to ensure that all beverage is dispensed and that the flow path has been cleared to dispense another beverage. The air purge is not immediately initiated at the end of the brew/mixing stage to clear the flow paths of the beverage for the most part. Unacceptable peaks in internal pressure at the beginning of the air purge are avoided.

In normal operation, the user turns off the machine 201 by operating the start/stop button 241.

Once the operating cycle is complete, the consumer removes the cartridge 1 by opening the holder 251 and manually removing and disposing of the cartridge. Alternatively, the machine 201 may be equipped with an automatic ejection mechanism to automatically open the holder 251 to remove the cartridge.

Plug-in for system

An insert 400 for use in the beverage preparation machine described above, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, is shown in figures 22 to 24.

The insert is substantially in the form of the aforementioned mount 257. The insert 400 is provided with an upstanding cylindrical extension 401, the extension 401 defining a receptacle into which, in use, a quantity of beverage ingredient can be loaded. A seal in the form of a rubber or elastomeric O-ring 403 is inserted or attached to the upper edge of the apertured extension 401. Alternatively, the O-ring 402 may be releasable from the extension 401 or permanently attached to the upper portion 401. Alternatively, the O-ring 402 may be attached to the brew head, such as to the viewing window 312.

As with mount 257, the insert 400 comprises two associated legs 407 having C-shaped clip means 406 at their distal ends for attachment to the pivot point of the beverage preparation machine 201 as the mount 257 of the beverage preparation machine 201 is attached in the same manner as described above. The receptacle defined by the extension 401 of the insert 400 is provided with an inlet aperture 405 near the periphery and an outlet aperture 404 in the centre of the receptacle. Fig. 23 illustrates a bottom view of the insert 400. As shown, the inlet orifice 405 may be surrounded by a dished recess. Alternatively, the inlet port may be a simple hole in the plane. The lower surface 417 of the insert 400 may also be provided with a recess 415 for receiving a barcode or RFID for reading by a barcode reader or RFID reader of the beverage preparation machine 201 in the same manner as described above for reading by the beverage preparation machine 201. Alternatively, the bar code may be applied directly to the lower surface 417 of the insert 400 without the need for the recess 415.

The outlet aperture 404 of the insert 400 is fitted with a downwardly related cylindrical projection 410 which can be received on the closed brew head by removing the removable inlet and outlet piercers 253,254 as shown in figure 24.

In use, the insert 400 and the brew head 255 together define a brewing volume having an inlet provided by the inlet aperture 405 of the insert 400 and an outlet provided by the outlet aperture 404 of the insert 400. It will be appreciated that the inlet to the brewing volume is directed upwardly and the outlet is directed downwardly.

The O-ring 403 provides a ring seal around the periphery of the brewing volume when the closure mechanism of the machine is closed to prevent leakage of fluid from the container.

As shown in fig. 24, the insert 400 may be inserted into a beverage preparation machine of the type described above at the location of the rotatable mount 257 and the removable inlet and outlet piercers 253,254. With the mount 257 provided, the insert 400 is rotatable about an axial bore of the beverage preparation machine.

In use, a quantity of beverage ingredient is loaded into the brewing volume defined by the insert 400 by placing the beverage ingredient into the receptacle defined by the extension 401. This loading operation may be performed before or after screwing the insert 400 onto the beverage preparation machine. Preferably, the insert 400 remains attached to the beverage preparation machine 201 and the user dispenses the beverage ingredients into the container.

The operation of the closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine is exactly as described above. In particular, it will be noted that when the closure mechanism is closed, the brew head applies a downward force to the upper edge of the O-ring 403 and insert extension 401 to seal the insert on the brew head. Depending on the configuration and size of the extension 401, pressure may be applied to the edges from the top of the viewing window 311 or from the associated edge of the viewing window that is downward. Furthermore, the downward pressure exerted by the closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine seals the lower surface 417 of the insert 400 against the fixed lower part 255 of the brew head to ensure a seal between the inlet aperture 405 of the insert 400 and the downwardly directed inlet of the brew head and to ensure that there is no leakage of water at this point in the dispensing process. The lower part 255 of the brew head 250 is preferably fitted with a rubber seal 420 at the inlet, the rubber seal 420 projecting slightly out of the plane of the lower part 255 to provide an improved seal between the upwardly directed inlet and the insert 400.

The beverage ingredients contained in the brewing volume of the insert 400 may be loose or contained in a container such as a soft filter bag made of filter paper. The advantage of using a filter bag is that the beverage component can be loaded quickly and removed more easily after dispensing.

During dispensing, the beverage dispensing machine introduces water from the upwardly directed inlet of the brew head 250 upwardly into the brewing volume. Water is mixed with the beverage ingredients in the brewing volume and the resulting beverage is dispensed downwardly through the outlet orifice 404 into the container beneath the brew head 250. Other aspects of the operation of the beverage preparation machine are as described above in relation to the operation of the cartridge. The recognition means of the beverage preparation machine are dedicated to reading a bar code or RFID on the lower surface, preferably in the recess 415.

The insert 400 has now been described as being used specifically with beverage components contained in a container, such as a filter bag. As noted, the beverage ingredients may be in loose form. In this case, a filter may be incorporated into the insert 400 to prevent the discharge of residual beverage ingredients. One preferred configuration is to position a planar filter across the upper boundary of the outlet aperture 404.

It will be appreciated that the insert 400 is advantageously rigid or semi-rigid to be able to transmit the downward pressure generated by the closure mechanism to the seal 403 and lower brew head part 255, thereby ensuring a good seal.

Flow through insert 400 is substantially inward from inlet 405 to outlet 404. Moreover, since one portion 402 is advantageously provided with both an inlet 405 and an outlet 404, the structure of the insert 400 is simplified.

In the above description, the insert has been described as defining a brewing volume. It will be appreciated that the insert and beverage preparation machine may be used in conjunction with beverage ingredients that do not require brewing, such as solutions, diluents or other water mixtures, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The insert has been described in detail in the above example as an alternative to the mount 257 of the machine 201. However, it will be appreciated that the insert may be any object insertable into the beverage preparation machine, whether or not connected, such that the dispensing of the beverage ingredients may be in loose form or contained in a receptacle such as, but not limited to, a sachet as set forth in the claims below.

Claims (56)

1. An insert for a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head adapted to receive a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge, the brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine, and a closure mechanism movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the insert comprising a receptacle having an opening through which, in use, a quantity of beverage ingredient can be dispensed into the receptacle, and a seal member on a lower portion of the insert, wherein, in use, when the insert is inserted into the brew head of the beverage preparation machine and the closure mechanism is moved to a closed position, the seal member contacts the brew head and seals against the opening of the receptacle to define a brewing volume containing beverage ingredient, and wherein, when the insert is inserted into the brew head, the inlet and outlet of the insert communicate with the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the brew head, such that, in use, water from the inlet of the brew head passes upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume and beverage formed from the water and said quantity of beverage component passes downwardly through the outlet of the insert and out of the outlet of the brew head.

2. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the quantity of beverage ingredient contained in the container is loose in use.

3. An insert as claimed in claim 2 wherein the insert has filter means between the brewing volume and the outlet of the insert.

4. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the quantity of beverage ingredient contained in the container at the time of use is contained in a container containing the filter means.

5. An insert as claimed in claim 4 wherein the container is deformable.

6. An insert as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the container is formed at least in part from filter paper or membrane.

7. An insert as claimed in claim 4 wherein the container is a filter bag.

8. An insert as claimed in claim 4 wherein the container is a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge.

9. An insert as claimed in claim 8 wherein the barrel may be any one of hemispherical, cylindrical, circular or square in shape.

10. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture of the receptacle is upwardly directed.

11. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal is located in an upper portion of the insert.

12. An insert as claimed in claim 11 wherein the seal is located at the upper edge of the insert.

13. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal and the container are separate from each other.

14. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a sealing ring to seal the periphery of the brewing volume.

15. An insert as claimed in claim 14 wherein the seal comprises an O-ring.

16. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seal is formed from a resilient material.

17. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is cup-shaped.

18. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is rigid or semi-rigid such that, on closure of the closure mechanism by the beverage preparation machine, pressure applied to the insert in use squeezes the insert with sufficient force to facilitate sealing of the sealing member against the brew head.

19. An insert as claimed in claim 18 which is adapted to form a seal against the viewing window of the closure mechanism.

20. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is rigid or semi-rigid such that pressure applied to the insert in use, on closure of said closure means by the closure means of the beverage preparation machine, seals a lower surface of the insert against the inlet of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine.

21. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is formed in one piece.

22. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is formed from more than one piece.

23. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is disc-shaped.

24. An insert as claimed in claim 1 which is composed of plastic.

25. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet of the insert are in the same plane.

26. An insert as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an aperture for receiving a window of a bar code reader or RFID reader of a beverage machine when the insert is inserted into the beverage machine.

27. An insert as claimed in claim 26 wherein the aperture is in the same plane as the inlet and outlet of the insert.

28. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet of the insert is formed in the insert and is located at or near the periphery of the insert and the outlet of the insert is located at the centre of the insert.

29. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in use, flow through the insert flows from the inlet to the outlet.

30. An insert as claimed in claim 29 wherein, in use, flow through the insert is substantially inward from the inlet to the outlet.

31. An insert as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for screwing the insert to the beverage preparation machine.

32. An insert as claimed in claim 31 wherein the rotation means rotates the insert to a horizontal orientation when the closure mechanism is closed, thereby sealing a lower surface of the insert against the inlet of the brew head.

33. An insert as claimed in claim 31 or 32 wherein the rotation means comprises one or more legs which are connected to and rotatable about one or more pivot points of the brew head.

34. An insert as claimed in claim 1 further comprising coding means for controlling the operation of the beverage preparation machine.

35. An insert as claimed in claim 34 wherein the encoding means comprises a bar code or Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).

36. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is disposable.

37. An insert as claimed in claim 36 wherein the inlet and/or outlet of the insert is initially closed by a frangible membrane.

38. An insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insert is reusable.

39. An insert as claimed in claim 38 wherein the opening of the container is closed by a lid.

40. An insert as claimed in claim 39 wherein the lid is push or pull mounted to the container.

41. A beverage preparation system comprising a beverage preparation machine and an insert for said machine, said insert being as claimed in claim 1 above.

42. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises a brew head adapted to receive a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge, the brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage from the machine.

43. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 42 wherein the inlet of the brew head is formed in the brew head at or near the periphery of the lower brew head and the outlet of the brew head is located at the centre of the brew head.

44. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 42 or 43 wherein, on insertion of the insert into the brew head, the inlet and outlet of the insert rest on top of upwardly directed inlet and downwardly directed outlet apertures of the brew head.

45. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 42 wherein the brew head of the beverage preparation machine comprises a closure mechanism movable between an open configuration in which the insert is insertable into the brew head and a closed configuration in which the closure mechanism compresses the insert and applies sufficient force to the sealing member of the insert to seal the brew head to close the opening of the container.

46. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 42 wherein the brew head of the beverage preparation machine comprises a closure mechanism movable between an open configuration in which the insert is insertable into the brew head and a closed configuration in which the insert is sealed to the inlet of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine.

47. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 42 wherein the brew head comprises a fixed lower portion comprising the brew head inlet and outlet and a rotatable upper portion rotatable from an open position in which the insert is insertable into the brew head and a closed position in which the insert is engaged between the fixed lower portion and the rotatable upper portion.

48. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 47 wherein the insert is rotatable onto the brew head such that rotation of the upper portion of the brew head from the open position to the closed position rotates the insert into contact with the fixed lower portion.

49. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 47 wherein the insert is located directly on the fixed lower part of the brew head when the upper part of the brew head is in the open position.

50. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises a reader for detecting a bar code or Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) on the insert.

51. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a quantity of beverage ingredients.

52. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 51 wherein said quantity of beverage ingredient is contained in a container comprising filtration means.

53. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 51 or 52 wherein the beverage component is selected from the group consisting of roast and ground coffee, leaf tea, powdered coffee, powdered tea, creamer, cappuccino mix, chocolate or liquid chocolate, coffee, tea and milk.

54. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 52 wherein the container is deformable.

55. A beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 52 wherein the container is formed at least in part by filter paper or membrane.

56. A method of dispensing a beverage using a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head adapted to receive a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge, the brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine. The method comprises the following steps:

opening a closure mechanism of the beverage preparation machine;

inserting an insert into the brew head, the insert being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 40 and containing a quantity of beverage ingredients;

closing the closure structure to squeeze the insert with sufficient force so that the sealing member of the insert forms a seal against the brew head to close the opening of the container;

operating the beverage preparation machine so that water in the inlet of the brew head flows upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume of the insert;

the beverage formed by the water and the beverage in the brewing chamber is dispensed so that it flows downwardly through the outlet of the insert and the outlet of the brew head.