Device, system and method for preparing a beverage from a capsule
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47J-031/36
A47J-031/40
B65D-085/804
출원번호
US-0765517
(2013-02-12)
등록번호
US-9808112
(2017-11-07)
우선권정보
EP-10194741 (2010-12-13)
발명자
/ 주소
Favero, Andrea
Fin, Guiseppe
Tsang, Ka Cheung
Kamerbeek, Ralf
Koeling, Hendrik Cornelis
van Loon-Post, Angenita Dorothea
출원인 / 주소
Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
대리인 / 주소
Foley & Lardner LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
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 ca
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.
대표청구항▼
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, andan actuating member positioned at least partially within the fi
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, andan 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, andwherein 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, andtemperature 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 and the second level. 33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the flow control unit is in the third mode when the switching member is in a third position, different from the first position and second position. 34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the switching member is in the third position upon engagement by a further different actuating member of a capsule. 35. The system according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises a beverage ingredient, preferably an extractable product, such as roast and ground coffee. 36. The system according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises a porous and/or perforate entrance face and/or exit face for allowing fluid to enter and/or beverage to exit the capsule, respectively. 37. Beverage preparation device of the system according to claim 1. 38. The capsule of the system according to claim 1. 39. The capsule for use in the beverage preparation device of the system according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises a cleaning agent and/or descaling agent. 40. Use of a capsule in a beverage preparation device according to claim 37 for preparing a beverage. 41. A capsule for preparing a consumable beverage in a beverage preparation device having a switching member located in a first recess of a flow control unit, the capsule comprising: a cup-shaped body, the body comprising a second recess,a lid for closing the body, andan actuating member arranged at least partially within the second recess and configured to engage and move the switching member in, and relative to, the first recess of the beverage preparation device to affect a flow parameter of fluid to be supplied to the capsule. 42. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member is a projection of the capsule. 43. The capsule according to claim 42, wherein the projection is comprised in a recess of the capsule, such that the projection substantially resides within an outer contour of the cup-shaped body. 44. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member is a recess of the capsule. 45. The capsule according to claim 43, wherein the recess is positioned in the cup-shaped body opposite the lid. 46. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member is positioned at the cup-shaped body opposite the lid. 47. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member is positioned at an axis of symmetry of the capsule. 48. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member and the cup-shaped body form a monolithic part. 49. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member is arranged as a vane for selectively obstructing or freeing an optical path of a light barrier unit. 50. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the actuating member comprises a magnetic indicator, such as a magnet and/or a magnetisable part. 51. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the capsule comprises a circumferential rim. 52. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the capsule comprises a beverage ingredient, preferably an extractable product, such as roast and ground coffee. 53. The capsule according to claim 41, wherein the capsule comprises a porous and/or perforate entrance face and/or exit face for allowing fluid to enter and/or beverage to exit the capsule, respectively.
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