System, method and capsule for preparing a beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604776-B2
Application number	US-201113314856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2011
Priority date	Jun 17, 2009
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

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

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An exchangeable capsule and apparatus for holding the exchangeable capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption comprising:
an exchangeable capsule, and
an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device constructed to supply an amount of a fluid under pressure to the exchangeable capsule,
wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising an extractable product,
wherein the bottom comprises an entrance area constructed to supply an amount of a fluid by the fluid dispensing device through the entrance area to the extractable product in the inner space of the exchangeable capsule,
wherein the lid comprises an exit layer constructed to supply a prepared beverage through the exit layer from the exchangeable capsule to a container,
wherein, prior to use, a flow resistance of the entrance area of the exchangeable capsule is lower than the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule, and wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule is lower than the flow resistance of the exit layer in cooperation with the extractable product at the exit layer;
wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the exchangeable capsule increases from the bottom towards the lid, and wherein, prior to use, a first portion of the extractable product is compacted to a first compaction density and a second portion of the extractable product located between the first portion and the lid is compacted to a second compaction density greater than the first compaction density such that the compaction density of the extractable product increases towards the lid.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21. The exchangeable capsule and apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an alternative capsule different from the exchangeable capsule, said alternative capsule having a lid,
said apparatus further comprising lid piercing means intended for piercing the lid of the alternative capsule, said lid of the alternative capsule being arranged for, during use, being pierced by said lid piercing means,
wherein the exit layer of the lid of the exchangeable capsule is arranged to have a sufficiently high tear strength and/or to be sufficiently stiff for, during use, not to be pierced by the lid piercing means of the apparatus under the influence of the pressure inside the exchangeable capsule.

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

23. A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, the capsule comprising:
a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,
wherein the bottom comprises an entrance area constructed to supply there through a fluid under pressure to the extractable product for preparing the beverage,
wherein the lid comprises an exit layer constructed to drain there through the prepared beverage from the capsule, and
wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance of the entrance area is lower than the flow resistance in the capsule, and wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the capsule is lower than the flow resistance of the exit layer in cooperation with the extractable product at the exit layer;
wherein, prior to use, the flow resistance in the capsule increases from the bottom towards the lid, and wherein, prior to use, a first portion of the e

Assignees

• Kamerbeek Ralf
• Flamand John Henri
• Van Loon-Post Angenita Dorothea
• Koeling Hendrik Cornelis
• Douwe Egberts Bv

Inventors

• Kamerbeek Ralf
• Flamand John Henri
• Van Loon-Post Angenita Dorothea
• Koeling Hendrik Cornelis

Classifications

• A23F5/262 Primary

  the extraction liquid flowing through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns · CPC title

• A47J31/0663

  to be used with loose coffee (A47J31/0689 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D65/466

  Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials · CPC title

• A47J31/407

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

• A47J31/0673

  Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet · CPC title