System, capsule and method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12070148-B2
Application number	US-201916355174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2019
Priority date	Jun 17, 2009
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A capsule for holding an extractable product for dispensing a beverage is disclosed. The capsule comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom, a lid, and an entrance opening portion and an exit opening portion for letting fluid in the capsule and draining prepared beverage from the capsule, respectively, of which at least one opening portion is closed to prevent fluid from passing. The circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid of the capsule enclose an inner space that comprises an extractable product, and the capsule further comprises at least one moveable portion of the capsule that extends at a distance from a respective opening portion, and that is arranged to open the respective opening portion by being moved with respect to the respective opening portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:
an exchangeable capsule,
an apparatus comprising a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid to the exchangeable capsule and having a bottom piercing means, a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet arrangement for supplying the beverage to a container, wherein:
the capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom comprising an entrance opening portion for letting fluid into the capsule, and a lid,
the circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid enclose an inner space that comprises an extractable product,
the system is arranged for bringing the fluid dispensing device in fluid connection with the entrance opening portion of the capsule for supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage,
the system is further arranged so that, in use, the outlet arrangement is in fluid communication with an exit opening portion of the capsule for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule, wherein such capsule is sealed before use with the entrance opening portion being closed and the exit opening portion being closed and
the capsule comprises at least one movable portion, wherein the bottom piercing means is arranged for pushing the at least one movable portion in the direction toward the exit opening portion without piercing the at least one movable portion, wherein the entrance opening portion is arranged so that a fluid passage opening is created by moving the at least one movable portion and is of approximately predetermined size and is provided at a predetermined location, in that the at least one movable portion forms at least a part of the bottom, wherein the capsule comprises cut outs for determining the size and location of the fluid passage opening and configured to enable movement of the at least one movable portion with respect to the circumferential wall and/or bottom and wherein the cut outs comprise a thinner section configured to break and form the fluid passage opening in the entrance opening portion.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein movable portion support parts are between the cut outs.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the movable portion support parts comprise frangible bridges.

4. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the movable portion support parts comprise relatively thin wall sections.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the exit opening portion is provided in the lid of the capsule.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises an entrance and/or the exit filter for letting fluid pass through while maintaining the extractable product inside the capsule.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable portion comprises an internal movable portion that extends in the inner space of the capsule.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom piercing means is arranged for piercing the bottom of an alternative capsule for providing an opening in the bottom of the alternative capsule for supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises a relatively rigid rim that projects towards the outside of the capsule from the edge of the circumferential wall, and the circumferential wall is substantially rigid so that, in use, deformation of the circumferential wall with respect to the receptacle is prevented.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises lid piercing means intended for piercing the exit opening portion of an alternative capsule when the exit opening portion is sufficiently pressed against the lid piercing means under the influence of pressure of the fluid and/or beverage in the alternative capsule for creating at least one exit opening through which the beverage drains from the alternative capsule, wherein the capsule comprises a second movable portion lined with the exit opening portion, the exit opening portion comprising exit openings that are sealed by the inner wall of the capsule, the lid piercing means being arranged for pushing the second movable portion into the capsule for creating a gap between the second movable portion and the lid or circumferential wall, so that the exit openings are released from the inner wall and fluid may flow through exit openings.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the exit opening portion is opened by at least partly deforming the lid so that a tension is created in the exit opening portion, which tension makes the exit opening portion break open.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule is conceived to be opened by means of manually actuating the movable portion.

Assignees

• Douwe Egberts Bv

Inventors

• Wong Kon Euan Gerard
• Brandt Guido
• Koeling Hendrik Cornelis
• Kamerbeek Ralf
• Biesheuvel Arend Cornelis Jacobus

Classifications

• B65D85/8046

  Pods, i.e. closed containers made only of filter paper or similar material · CPC title

• B65D85/8061

  Filters · CPC title

• B65D85/8049

  Details of the inlet · CPC title

• B65D85/8052

  Details of the outlet · CPC title

• B65D65/466

  Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials · CPC title