Device, system and method for preparing a beverage from a capsule

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9808112-B2
Application number	US-201313765517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2013
Priority date	Aug 13, 2010
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A system, device and method for preparing a beverage using a capsule. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body, a lid and an actuating member. The device comprises a capsule holder, a fluid supply unit, and a flow control unit arranged for controlling a parameter of the fluid to be supplied to the capsule. The flow control unit is arranged for selectively operating in one of at least a first mode and a second mode. The flow control unit comprises a switching member movable between a first and second position, and arranged for being engaged by the actuating member of the capsule. The system is arranged such that the flow control unit is in the first mode when the switching member is in the first position, and such that the flow control unit is in the second mode when the switching member is in the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for preparing a beverage using a capsule, the system comprising:
a beverage preparation device and a capsule,
wherein the capsule comprises:
a cup-shaped body, the body comprising a first recess,
a lid for closing the body, and
an actuating member positioned at least partially within the first recess;

wherein the device comprises:
a capsule holder arranged for holding the capsule, the capsule holder comprising a second recess configured to receive the actuating member of the capsule,
a fluid supply unit arranged for supplying a fluid towards the capsule when the capsule is in the capsule holder,
a flow control unit arranged for controlling a parameter of fluid to be supplied towards the capsule, wherein the flow control unit is arranged for selectively operating in one of at least a first mode and a second mode,
wherein in the first mode the parameter is adjusted to a first level, and in the second mode the parameter is adjusted to a second level, different from the first level,
wherein the flow control unit comprises a switching member movable relative to the second recess between a first position and a second position, the switching member positioned at least partially within the second recess and being arranged for being engaged by the actuating member of the capsule to be positioned in the first or second position when the capsule is in the capsule holder, and
wherein the flow control unit is in the first mode when the switching member is in the first position, and wherein the flow control unit is in the second mode when the switching member is in the second position.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter is one or more of
flow rate,
pressure,
volume,
temperature,
time duration of supplying the fluid towards the capsule,
flow rate of the fluid to be supplied towards the capsule as a function of time,
pressure of the fluid to be supplied towards the capsule as a function of time,
volume of the fluid to be supplied towards the capsule as a function of time, and
temperature of the fluid to be supplied towards the capsule as a function of time.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the capsule holder comprises a protruding portion, and the switching member is recessed with respect to said protruding portion.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the switching member is recessed with respect to the inner wall of the capsule holder, and wherein the actuating member is recessed with respect to the outer contour of the capsule.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the inner wall of the capsule holder comprises a protruding portion, and the switching member is recessed with respect to said protruding portion, wherein the protruding portion of the inner wall of the capsule holder extends into the first recess of the capsule when the capsule is in the capsule holder.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating member is positioned at an axis of symmetry of the capsule.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the switching member is positioned at an axis coaxial with the axis of symmetry of the capsule when the capsule is in the capsule holder.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the switching member is positioned coaxial with the actuating member when the capsule is in the capsule holder.

9. The system according claim 1 one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating member is a projection of the capsule.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the projection is comprised in the first recess of the capsule, such that the projection substantially resides within an outer contour of the cup-shaped body.

11. The system according to claim 1 , comprising optical detection means for detecting the position of the switching member.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the optical detection means comprise at least one light barrier unit.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the switching member comprises a vane for selectively obstructing or freeing an optical path of the at least one light barrier unit.

14. The system according to claim 1 , comprising magnetic detection means for detecting the position of the switching member.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the magnetic detection means comprise at least one magnetic induction sensor.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the switching member comprises a magnetic indicator for being detected by the magnetic induction sensor.

17. The system according to claim 1 , comprising optical detection means for detecting the position of the actuating member.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the optical detection means comprise at least one light barrier unit.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the actuating member comprises a vane for selectively obstructing or freeing an optical path of the at least one light barrier unit.

20. The system according to claim 1 , comprising magnetic detection means for detecting the position of the actuating member.

21. The system according to claim 20 , wherein the magnetic detection means comprise at least one magnetic induction sensor.

22. The system according to claim 20 , wherein the actuating member comprises a magnetic indicator for being detected by the magnetic detection means.

23. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit comprises a valve for controlling the flow rate and/or pressure of the fluid.

24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the valve is designed as a leaking valve, such that in the first mode the valve is in a closed position but allowed to leak, and in the second mode the valve is in an open position.

25. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the valve is mechanically actuated by the actuating member of the capsule.

26. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the valve is actuated by an actuator which in turn is activated by the switching member, wherein the actuator is one of electronic, electric, magnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic, or a combination thereof.

27. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit is arranged for instructing the fluid supply unit to control the flow rate and/or pressure of the fluid supplied to the capsule.

28. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the flow rate and/or pressure in the first mode is smaller than the flow rate and/or pressure in the second mode.

29. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the switching member is in the first position when the switching member is not engaged by an actuating member of a capsule.

30. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the switching member is in the second position upon engagement by an actuating member of a capsule.

31. The system according to claim 30 , wherein the switching member is in the first position when the switching member is not engaged by an actuating member of a capsule, wherein the switching member is in the first position upon engagement by a different actuating member of a capsule.

32. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the flow control unit is arranged for further operating in a third mode, wherein in the third mode the parameter is adjusted to a third level, different from the first level

Assignees

• Douwe Egberts Bv
• Koninl Philips Electronics Nv

Inventors

• Favero Andrea
• Fin Guiseppe
• Tsang Ka Cheung
• Kamerbeek Ralf
• Koeling Hendrik Cornelis
• Van Loon-Post Angenita Dorothea

Classifications

• B65D85/8043 Primary

  Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06) · CPC title

• A47J31/407 Primary

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

• A47J31/368

  Permeable cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/3623

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

• A47J31/3676

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title