Identification of beverage ingredient containing capsules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9010237-B2
Application number	US-201013518305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2010
Priority date	Dec 21, 2009
Publication date	Apr 21, 2015
Grant date	Apr 21, 2015

Abstract

The invention concerns a beverage production system comprising beverage ingredient containing capsules ( 1 ) comprising an identification member ( 6 ) and a beverage production machine for receiving said capsules, said machine comprising contact means ( 8 ) for physically contacting the capsule identification member ( 6 ) in order to read information thereof and control means connected to the contact means and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine ( 11 ) in response to the read information, the contact means ( 8 ) comprising:—at least one displaceable probe ( 81 ) which mechanically contacts the capsule identification member ( 6 ),—a resilient support member ( 82 ) in contact with the probe on one side and associated to a circuitry ( 9 ) on its other side, wherein the part of the resilient support member in contact with the probe presents such a shape that it is able to deform itself when the probe applies a force on it, the deformation being partially transversal to the direction applied by the force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage production system comprising:
beverage ingredient containing capsules comprising an identification member; and
a beverage production machine for receiving the capsules, the machine comprising a contact member for physically contacting the capsule identification member in order to read information thereof, and a controller connected to the contact member and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine in response to the read information, the contact member comprising:
at least one displaceable probe which mechanically contacts the capsule identification member, and
a resilient support member in contact with the probe on one side and associated to a circuitry on its other side, at least a part of the resilient support member in contact with the probe on one side and associated to the circuitry on its other side presents a shape able to deform itself when the probe applies a force on it, the deformation being partially transversal to the direction applied by the force, and the resilient support member being a sheet on which a hollowed cylinder protrudes from the side of the resilient support member in contact with the probe, and in which a hollow cone extends coaxially with the hollowed cylinder on the other side of the resilient support member which contacts the circuitry when the resilient support member is deformed.

2. The beverage production system according to claim 1 , wherein the part of the resilient support member in contact with the probe presents a shape that when the probe applies a force on it, it first deforms itself along a direction longitudinal to the force applied by the probe and second deforms itself along a direction transversal to the direction applied by the force.

3. The beverage production system according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient support member is made of an elastomeric material.

4. The beverage production system according to claim 3 , wherein the resilient support member is made of silicone or of an EPDM rubber.

5. The beverage production system according to claim 1 , wherein the contact member comprises discrete conductive parts fixed on a layer placed between the resilient support member and the circuitry.

6. The beverage production system according to claim 5 , wherein the discrete conductive parts are fixed on the side of the layer facing the circuitry.

7. The beverage production system according to claim 6 , wherein the discrete conductive parts face the areas of the circuitry which can be short-circuited.

8. The beverage production system according to claim 5 , wherein the layer is made of an elastomeric member and the electrical conductive parts are made of graphite.

9. The beverage production system according to claim 5 , wherein the layer is a film, the discrete electrical conductive pieces being stuck on the film and a waterproof material layer being placed between the resilient support member and the layer.

10. The beverage production system according to claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a controller arranged with the at least one probe to detect an identification information in relation to the degree of displacement of the probe in response to its contact with the capsule.

11. The beverage production system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one displaceable probe and the part of the resilient support member coupled to the probe are selectively moved depending on the contact of the probe with the capsule and selectively contact the associated circuitry wherein the contact of the probe coupled to the resilient member and the associated circuitry constitutes a predetermined binary coded state (0 or 1) and the non-contact of the probe coupled to the resilient member and the associated circuitry constitutes the other binary coded state (1 or 0).

12. The beverage production system of claim 1 , wherein the contact member comprises a plurality of identical displaceable pins for contacting a plurality of predetermined localized contact receivers of the capsule.

Assignees

• Ozanne Matthieu
• Vuagniaux Didier
• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Ozanne Matthieu
• Vuagniaux Didier

Classifications

• A47J31/36

  with mechanical pressure-producing means · CPC title

• A47J43/00

  Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A47J31/3647

  a tape being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/44

  Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) · CPC title

• A47J31/4492 Primary

  Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge · CPC title