Device for adapting a food capsule into a capsule holder
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47J-031/06
B65B-029/02
출원번호
US-0808050
(2011-06-30)
등록번호
US-9386876
(2016-07-12)
우선권정보
EP-10168128 (2010-07-01)
국제출원번호
PCT/EP2011/061029
(2011-06-30)
§371/§102 date
20130102
(20130102)
국제공개번호
WO2012/001115
(2012-01-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Denisart, Jean-Luc
Dogan, Nihan
Doleac, Frédéric
Hentzel, Stéphane
Raederer, Marc
출원인 / 주소
Nestec S.A.
대리인 / 주소
K&L Gates LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
An adapting device for adapting a capsule into the capsule holder of a food machine when the capsule or pod is smaller than capsules or pods originally designed for insertion into the capsule holder is provided. The machine includes a fluid injection element for circulating a fluid through the capsu
An adapting device for adapting a capsule into the capsule holder of a food machine when the capsule or pod is smaller than capsules or pods originally designed for insertion into the capsule holder is provided. The machine includes a fluid injection element for circulating a fluid through the capsule to a discharge opening, the capsule including a body enclosing a food ingredient to be dissolved and/or extracted so as to produce a food product, and further including circumferential edges. The device includes a holding portion for holding at least a portion of the capsule, and a sealer for circumferentially adapting to the capsule holder and/or to the fluid injection element, and/or to the capsule outside surface, in a leak-tight manner so that the fluid flow is directed solely from the fluid injection element through the capsule, to a discharge opening.
대표청구항▼
1. A food preparation machine for preparing a food product, the food preparation machine adapted to receive a capsule or pod holder configured to directly receive and hold at least one capsule or pod of a first kind, the food preparation machine comprising: a fluid injection element movable relative
1. A food preparation machine for preparing a food product, the food preparation machine adapted to receive a capsule or pod holder configured to directly receive and hold at least one capsule or pod of a first kind, the food preparation machine comprising: a fluid injection element movable relative to the capsule or pod holder, for circulating a fluid through an internal chamber of the at least one capsule or pod of the first kind, to a discharge opening of the at least one capsule or pod of the first kind;at least one adapting device for adapting at least one capsule or pod of a second kind into the capsule or pod holder, the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind being smaller than the at least one capsule or pod of the first kind, the at least one adapting device comprising:a holding portion for holding at least a portion of the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind, wherein the holding portion contacts and holds the entire surface of side walls of the at least one capsule or pod side of the second kind, at least at the time the fluid circulates through the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind,a sealer for circumferentially adapting to at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) the capsule or pod holder, (ii) the fluid injection element and (iii) a capsule outside surface, in a leak-tight manner so that the fluid is directed solely from the fluid injection element through an internal chamber of the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind, to a discharge opening of the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind, the sealer extending below a top surface of the capsule or pod holder between the capsule or pod holder and the capsule outside surface,a ring-like device body, an external shape and size of the ring-like device body adapted to fit at least partially an internal shape and size of the capsule or pod holder, and the internal shape and size of the capsule or pod holder adapted to fit at least partially an external surface of the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind; anda closing lid for closing the ring-like device body, the closing lid comprising an opening positioned relative to the fluid injection element to allow the fluid through the closing lid into the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind. 2. The food preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion also contacts and holds the entire surface of a bottom wall of the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind, at least at the time the fluid circulates through the at least one capsule or pod of the second kind. 3. An adapting device for adapting at least one capsule or pod into a capsule holder of a food preparation machine configured to directly receive and hold native capsules originally designed for insertion into the capsule holder, the food preparation machine comprising a fluid injection element movable relative to the capsule holder for circulating a fluid through an internal chamber of the native capsules to a discharge opening of the native capsules, wherein the at least one capsule or pod is smaller than the native capsules, the adapting device comprising: a holding portion for holding at least a portion of the at least one capsule or pod, wherein the holding portion contacts and holds the entire surface of side walls of the at least one capsule or pod, at least at the time the fluid circulates through the at least one capsule or pod under pressure;a sealer for circumferentially adapting to at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) the capsule holder, (ii) the fluid injection element of the food preparation machine and (iii) a capsule outside surface, in a leak-tight manner so that the fluid is directed solely from the fluid injection element through the internal chamber of the at least one capsule or pod to the discharge opening of the at least one capsule or pod, the sealer extending below a top surface of the capsule holder between the capsule holder and the capsule outside surface;a ring-like device body, an external shape and size of the ring-like device body adapted to fit at least partially an internal shape and size of the capsule holder, and the internal shape and size of the capsule holder adapted to fit at least partially an external surface of the at least one capsule or pod; anda closing lid for closing the ring-like device body, the closing lid comprising an opening positioned relative to the fluid injection element to allow the fluid through the closing lid into the at least one capsule or pod. 4. The adapting device according to claim 3, wherein the holding portion contacts and holds the entire surface of a bottom wall of the at least one capsule or pod, at least at the time the fluid circulates through the at least one capsule or pod. 5. The adapting device according to claim 3, wherein the closing lid further comprises a duct system comprising at least one duct in fluid communication with the opening of the closing lid and at least one outlet opening located in the vicinity of, or in contact with, the capsule or pod. 6. The adapting device according to claim 5, wherein the closing lid further comprises a sealing member to ensure that a contact surface between the ring-like device body and the closing lid is leak-tight. 7. The adapting device according to claim 6, wherein the sealing member comprises a circular O-ring rubber seal. 8. The adapting device according to claim 3 having an internal shape adapted to enclose a capsule having rigid walls with a generally cylindrical, discoid, or frustoconical shape. 9. The adapting device according to claim 3 having an internal shape adapted to enclose a soft pod having flexible walls with a generally discoid shape. 10. The adapting device according to claim 3, further comprising two cup-like complementary shells adapted to engage in the leak-tight manner so as to define together an internal chamber for enclosing the at least one capsule or pod, the two cup-like complementary shells comprising an upper shell connected to the fluid injection element in a fluid-tight manner and a lower shell comprising an outlet opening for circulating a food product produced from the circulation of the fluid through the at least one capsule or pod. 11. The adapting device according to claim 3 further comprising a lower portion in a shape of a hopper, the hopper having a shape and size such that a hopper lower outlet opening fits within a capsule holder lower dispensing opening, so that a food product flowing from the capsule or pod is directed through the hopper, out of the hopper, without contacting the capsule holder. 12. The adapting device according to claim 3 further comprising an opening member located on at least a portion of an inner surface of the adapting device, the opening member being suitable for opening at least a portion of the at least one capsule or pod to create at least one opening selected from a fluid inlet and a product dispensing outlet through the at least one capsule or pod. 13. The adapting device according to claim 3, which is single-use and disposable. 14. The adapting device according to claim 3, wherein the closing lid further comprises a plurality of outlet openings and a duct system in fluid communication with the opening and the plurality of outlet openings, wherein the plurality of outlet openings are disposed on a surface of the closing lid facing an interior of the adapting device.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Favre Eric (Saint Barthelemy CHX), Apparatus for the preparation of an edible liquid.
Colston, Martin E.; Gee, Christopher J.; Shaw, Jon W.; Pope, Kevin C.; Cooke, John C.; Caroen, Adrian B.; Rivin, Evgeny I.; Fey, Victor R., Methods and apparatus for brewing beverages.
Smith, Geoffrey Y.; Launie, Jr., Peter Thomas; Brodie, Jonathan Alexander; Foster, Stuart Jay; Hristov, Stoyan Plamenov; Greiner, Jordan Dean Jack; Woskov, Peter Nicholas; Rabino, Yoav; Shepard, James E.; Tinkler, Ian; Jacobs, William T.; Lazatin, Patrick J.; McHugh, William Philip; Brandimarte, Kevin Thomas; Liuzza, Mario; Maclean, Timothy, Beverage machine cartridge holder.
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