System for multi-ingredient beverage preparation from various container types

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11944231-B2
Application number	US-201816763785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2017
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a fluid system comprising a fluid source (2), a pump (3), a heating element (4), at least two container holders (7a, 7b) adapted for receiving ingredient containers (11, 17), a control unit (8) for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers, wherein the control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage, wherein the container holders (7a, 7b) differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types and, and wherein it further comprises separate fluid injection interfaces (9a, 9b) having different structural and kinematic configurations, and arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers; each interface being connected to the fluid system and being adapted to a different container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a fluid system comprising a fluid source, a fluid pump, and a fluid heating element,
two container holders comprising a first container holder and a second container holder, each container holder adapted for receiving a beverage ingredient container, and the first container holder is adapted to receive a first beverage ingredient container comprising a compacted roast and ground coffee pod, and the second container holder is adapted to receive a second beverage ingredient container comprising a soluble milk powder sachet,
a control unit arranged for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with beverage ingredients contained in the beverage ingredient containers to produce a beverage component in each beverage ingredient container, and the control unit is further arranged to dispense at least a portion of the beverage components of the beverage ingredient containers at least simultaneously to produce the beverage; and
separate fluid delivery interfaces, each separate fluid delivery interface arranged for independently delivering the fluid in each beverage ingredient container, each separate fluid delivery interface being connected to the fluid system and being adapted to each beverage ingredient container,
wherein a fluid delivery interface of the compacted roast and ground coffee pod comprises a shower plate and is configured to distribute the fluid over at least a fluid-permeable portion of the compacted roast and ground coffee pod, and a fluid delivery interface of the soluble milk powder sachet comprises a fluid injection needle configured to pierce through a wall of the soluble milk powder sachet and protrude into the soluble milk powder sachet for injection of the fluid;
wherein the separate fluid delivery interfaces have different structural and kinematic configurations; and
wherein the different kinematic configurations have different relative movements between the beverage ingredient container and the corresponding separate fluid delivery interface.

2. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further arranged to dispense at least a portion of the beverage components of the beverage ingredient containers sequentially to produce the beverage.

3. The beverage preparation machine of claim 1 , further comprising a selection valve configured to select delivery of fluid towards the separate fluid delivery interfaces,
wherein the selection valve is connected to the control unit so that the control unit automatically switches a position of the valve to a closed state or to an open state for conducting hot or non-heated fluid towards one of the separate fluid interfaces or to both of the separate fluid interfaces at the same time.

4. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged to control the fluid system for each of the separate fluid delivery interfaces in a different manner such that at least one of a fluid temperature, a fluid flow rate, a fluid pressure, or a fluid volume of the fluid that is delivered in the first beverage ingredient container differs from the fluid delivered in the second beverage ingredient container.

5. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged to control the fluid system for each of the separate fluid delivery interfaces in a different manner such that at least one of a fluid flow rate, a fluid pressure, or a fluid volume of the fluid that is delivered in the first beverage ingredient container differs from the fluid delivered in the second beverage ingredient container.

6. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the separate fluid delivery interfaces is connected to the fluid system through a type of a releasable fluidic connection configured to be detached from the beverage preparation machine and replaced by another type of separate fluid delivery interface having the same type of releasable fluidic connection.

7. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid-cooling element.

8. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the separate fluid delivery interfaces differ by at least one structural element that involves at least one kinematic movement of rotation or translation.

9. The beverage preparation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the soluble milk powder sachet comprises a pierceable, rupturable, or tearable film pouch sealed around at least one spout, the at least one spout comprising at least one fluid injection inlet and at least one beverage dispensing outlet.

10. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein a headspace in at least one of the beverage ingredient containers is less than 20%.

11. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid pump is configured to deliver fluid to the first beverage ingredient container or to the second beverage ingredient container at a pressure range between 5 bar and 20 bar.

12. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid pump is configured to deliver fluid to the first beverage ingredient container or to the second beverage ingredient container at a flow rate between 150 ml/min and 650 ml/min.

13. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery interface of the compacted roast and ground coffee pod has a structural configuration comprising a stationary part and a cladding structure moveable relative to the stationary part.

14. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery interface of the soluble milk powder sachet has a structural configuration comprising a set of centering pins configured to move between a retracted position within the beverage preparation machine and a position inserted into an opening in the soluble milk powder sachet.

15. The beverage preparation machine according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid injection needle is configured to move between a retracted position within the beverage preparation machine and a position piercing into a wall of the soluble milk powder sachet.

Assignees

• Nestle Sa

Inventors

• Talon Christian
• Heydel Christophe Sebastien Paul
• Jarisch Christian
• Noth Andre
• Bonacci Enzo
• Denisart Jean-Luc
• Yoakim Alfred

Classifications

• A47J31/3676 Primary

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/3623 Primary

  Cartridges being employed (with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652) · CPC title

• A47J31/407

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title

• A47J31/469

  Details of hydraulic circuits · CPC title