CA2039256A1 - Beverage packages - Google Patents
Beverage packagesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2039256A1 CA2039256A1 CA002039256A CA2039256A CA2039256A1 CA 2039256 A1 CA2039256 A1 CA 2039256A1 CA 002039256 A CA002039256 A CA 002039256A CA 2039256 A CA2039256 A CA 2039256A CA 2039256 A1 CA2039256 A1 CA 2039256A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- package
- beverage
- compartment
- outlet
- beverage preparation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/34—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
- Tea And Coffee (AREA)
- Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
- Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
- Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
- Polymers With Sulfur, Phosphorus Or Metals In The Main Chain (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BEVERAGE PACKAGES A beverage package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the said package comprising a compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), an inlet which communicates with the said compartment and an outlet, a filter being disposed between the compartment and at least a part of the under surface of the top of the package, one or more passages being formed between the filter and the top of the package, which passage(s) communicate with the outlet whereby, in use, a liquid medium is passed into the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), filtered upwardly through the filter and collected through the outlet.
Description
e 3761 BEVER~GB PAC~GB~
The present invention relates to packages containing ingredients for the preparation of beverages and, in particular, to sealed packages which are formed from a substantially air-and water-impermeable material and which contain one or more ingredients ~or the preparation of beverages.
It has pre~iously been proposed to seal beverage preparation ingredients in individual air-impermeable packages. For example, cartridges or capsules containing compacted ground cof~ee are known for use in certain coffee maXing machines which are generally termed "espresso" machines. In the production of coffee using these coffee machines the coffee cartridge is placed in a brewing chamber and hot water is generally caused to pass under pressure through the cartridge, thereby extracting the aromatic coffee constituents from the ground coffee and producing a coffee beverage.
Cartridges containing roast and yround coffee in which hot water flows under gravimetric ~orce through the cartridge are also known. A cartrid~e of this general type is described in British Patent No~
1397116.
In our European Patent Application No. 87311325.2 thers is described a package which contains at least one beverage preparation ingredient, e.y. roast and ground coffee. In a preferred embodiment the package is ~ormed from a substantially air and water-impermeable material and comprises a sealed body portion having a compartment containing the beverage ingredient and an outlet channel, the compartment and the outlet channel co-operating in such a manner that, in use, the beverage is filtered, thereby avoiding the necessity ~or an external filter.
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There is also described in European Patent Application No. 87311325.2, a method for preparing a beverage which comprises positioning a beverage containing package at a brewing station, introducing water through water introduction means into the package, allowing the water to commingle with the beverage ingredient, and collecting the beverage so~formed through an outlet formed in the package.
The beverage packages as described in European Patent Application No. 87311325.2 are primarily intended to be used with a beverage preparation machine which handles the pacXages automatically or semi-automatically. A machine of this type is described in our European Patent Application No.
89302708.6. The packages may contain roast and ground co~fee, leaf ~ea or one or more pvwdered beverage preparation ingredients such as powdered chocolate, powdered coffee or powdered soup.
We have now developed a package containing one or more ingredients for the preparation of beverages in which a filter is disposed in such a manner that the beverage ~o produced is filtered upwardly through the filter.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a beverage package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients and being ~ormed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the said package comprising a compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), an inlet which communicates with the said compartment and an outlet, a filter being disposed between the compartment and at least a part of the under surface of the top of the package, one or more passages being formed between the filter and the top of the package, which passage(~) communic~te with the outlet whereby, in use, a liquid medium is passed into the -.. ..
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compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), filtered upwardly through the filter and collected through the outlet.
The beverage package o~ the present invention preferably has a body portion which may be formedl for example, from a moulded plastics material. The inlet and~or outlet of the package may be closed by a plug of a plastics material moulded into the inlet and/or outlet nozzle during the moulding of the body portion. Alternatively, the inlet and/or outlet may be covered by a substantially air- and water-impermeable material, for example aluminium foil or a laminated material, such as a laminate of plastic material/metal foil/plastic material, prior to the opening of the inlet and/or outlet. Specific examples of materials which can be used are aluminium foil having a thickness in the range of from 30 to 60 micrometres coated with a layer of polypropylene or a laminate of polypropylene/aluminium foil/polyester.
The outlet in the package may be prepared during the beverage preparation cycle using a cutting and piercing tool for example of the type as described in our ~uropean Patent Application No. B9302708.6.
Alternatively, the inlet and/or outlet may be op~n and the beverage package provided with an outer wrapping or the like. For example, a plurality of packages may be provided with a shrink wrapped outer layer.
In the packages of the present invention, the communication between the inlet and the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s) is preferably via a channel which is separated from the compartment by a wall which has a plurality of openings formed therein for the entry of a liguid medium into the compartment. The channel preferably extends alony at least one side o~ the compartment, :: ;: ~ , , :, ' ', ; ' `: ' :~: ` : ' .' 4 ~
more preferably along three sides of the compartment. The openings in the wall are preferably in the form of elongate slots which are generally arranged in a manner such that an even distribution of the liquid medium through the beverage preparation ingredients i5 acheived.
~ he filter is preferably made from a material with a high wet strength, for example a non-woven polyester fibre material or polypropylene. Other materials which may be used include a water-permeable cellulosic material, such as a cellulosic material comprising woven paper fibres. The wo~en paper fibres may ba admixed with fibres of polypropylene, pol~vinyl-chloride and/or polyethylene. The incorporation of these plastics materials into the cellulosic material renders the cellulosic material heat-sealable. The filter material may also be coated with a material which is activated by heat and~or pressure so that it can readily be sealed to ~0 ribs formed in the under surface of the top of the package, thereby forming one or more passages which communicate with the outletO
The beverage preparation ingredients contained in the packages of the invention are preferably roast and ground ooffee, or leaf tea, and according to individual taste, powd~red milk or creamer, sugar or artificial sweetner.
It will be understood that it may be convenient for the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredients to be separated into two or more sections, for example, one section containing roast and ground coffee and another section containing powdered milk or creamer. In such an arrangement the means for the entry of the liquid medium into the separate compartments would be varied to suit the requirements for filtration or . -, : ,:
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dissolution of the particular ingredients.
The package of the presant invention, when filled with roast and ground cofPee, preferably contains from 2.5 to 10 grams of roast and ground coffee, preferably from 4.5 to 6 grams for the preparation of a single cup. However, packages which are intended to provide multiple servings of coPfee will contain an appropriate amount of roast and ground coffee, for example, packages intended to provide say five CUp5 of coffee will contain from 20 to 50 grams of roast and ground coffee, preferably from 25 to 30 grams.
The roast and ground coffee is generally compacted when the beverage package is filled in order to aid the distribution and tran~port of water through the package.
In use of the beverage packages of the present invention a liguid medium is passed via the inlet of the package into the compartment contalning the beverage preparation ingredient(s~. The filter is disposed at the top of the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s) and the liquid medium is thereby caused to ~low upwardly through the beverage preparation ingredients. The beverage so formed flows upwardly through the filter into the passage or passage~ which communicate with the outlet.
Filtering the beverage in an upwardly direction has been found to be advantageous in that the smaller and lighter particles of the beverage preparation ingredients settle to the bottom of the compartment and hence the clogging of the filter by these small particles is mitigated. The beverage thus filters more rapidly upwardly through the Pilter than it would if the fllter were placed beneath the bevera~e ingredients and the liquid medium cau~ed to flow in a downwardly direction. Furthermore, the flow of water .. . . .
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, ' - . ' ' ' in an upwardly direction through the package is advantageous in that the particles of the beverage preparation ingredient(s) float up towards the filter, thereby re-establishing the filter bed. This is of particular advantage i~ the particles of the beverage preparation ingredient(s) have settled during transport and/or storage and if holes or cracks have formed in the bed. The upward filtration causes the filter bed to re~estabilish in these situations, thereby providing a more effective filtration of the beverage preparation ingredient(s). With regaxd to the preparation o~ a beverage from tea leaves the upward filtration is particularly advantageous because the tea leaves float initially and then sink and the configuration of the bevera~e packag2s of the present invention prevents the wetted tea leaves from blinding the filter.
The quality of the ~iltration of beverage preparation ingredients, in particular roast and ground coffee, is known to affect the ~lavour of the beverage. The brewing and flavour characteristics for roast and ground coffee charge with the roasting and grinding conditions and are e~fected by the size and shapa of the particles. The beverage packages o~
the present invention enable efficient filtration to be achieved and thereby give rise to beverages which have little or no turbidity and a good flavour.
Another advantage of the package of the present invention is that with the continuous flow of water in an upwardly direction through the package a more effective wetting of the beverage preparation ingredient(s) is achieved. This is of importance for roast and ground coffee since the wetting of the particles causes the particles to swell and thus assists in preventing fine particles from passing : .. . - , , ,:
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through the ~ilter. It will be appreciated that for the preparation of coffee from roast and ground coffee, or the preparation of tea from leaf tea, the liquid medium is hot water.
The present invention also includes within its scope a method for the preparation of a beverage from a sealed package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients located in a compartment in the package, which method comprises introducing a - 10 liquid medium suitable for the preparation of the beverage under pressure into the package through an inlet ~ormed therein, causing the liquid medium to ent~r the compartment thereby forming the beverage, filtering the beverage in an upwardly direction through a ~ilter, and collecting the beverage so formed from an outlet formed in the package. ~:
The packages of the present invention are preferably provided with a recognition ~eans whereby, in use, the package is identified by khe machine into 20 which it is placed for treatment and the .
identification of the packags thereby causes it to he subjected to the correct treatment steps including the introduction of a liguid medium into the package. For the preparation of beverages from beverage preparation ingredients the liquid medium introduced into the package will generally be water or a water/air mixture. ::
The recognition means may comprise one or more surface features formed in the body of the beverage package~ For example, the package body may be provided with one or more indents, cut outs, '.
protrusions or holes which can be identi~ied by a mechanical sensor in the beverage preparation machine, the mechanical sensor registering the presence or absence of the indents, cut outs, protrusions or holes.
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'' ~ . ' ' The recognition means may, alternatively, comprise a system which can be sensed by a simple optical device, for example a bar code printed onto the body of the package, a pattern of through holes in the package, a pattern of contrasting tones or colours printed onto the package or packages containing different comestible~ being of different colours.
The recognition means may also comprise one or more strips of a magnPtic material applied to the body of the package which can be read by an appropriate magnetic sensor; one or more shaped or divided areas of metal foil applied to the package body which cause an inductive e~ect on movement of the package in the machine, which inductive effect can be sensed;.or one or more electrically conductive areas ~ormed on the body of the package which can be sensed electrically.
A~ mentioned above, the package of the present invention contains one or more beverage preparation ingredients, for example, roast and ground coffee or leaf tea and sugar and/or creamer, as desired. one machine which can readily be adapted for the preparation of a beverage from the preferred beverage package of the invention which includes a recognition means is described in our European Patent Applicatio No. 89302708.6. The only modi~ication required to be made to such a beveraye preparation machine is to incorporate an appropriate sensor or sensors into it, the sensor or sensors being designed to read the particular coding on the capsule and to send a signal to the controller, which then selects the appropriate beverage preparation cycle.
The recognition system used on the beverage packages of the present invention enables a single beverage preparation machine to prepare from . . : .. .,i ., :
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different beverage packayes a great number o~
different beverages which require different beverage preparation conditions.
The packages of the present invention may be treated by a machine which includes therein on~ or more sensors which are adapted to sense and identify a recognition means provided on a package inserted into the machine.
The sensor may be, for example, a mechanical sensor, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electrical sensor or an inductive sensor. The machine is preferably adapted 50 that the package is handled automatically following its insertion into the machine. For example, a machine of the type as described in our European Patent Applicakion No.
8~302708.6 can be fitted with an appropriate sensor to sense and identify a recognition means provided on beverage packages intended for use therewith.
The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of abeverage package of the invention:
~ igure 2 is a top plan vlew of the beverage package o~ Figure l;
Figure 3 is a section through the beverage package of Figure 1 along line A-A of Figure 2; ;-Figure 4 is a section throuyh the beverage package o~ Figure 1 along line B-B of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a section along the line C-C of Figure 2;
Referring to the drawings a beverage package body is shown at 1. The body may be formed, for example, from a moulded plastics material. The body 1 has a compartment 2 in which the beverage preparation ingredient or ingredients are contained. The package - : , ,: : . , -, ,. :..: .: :
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body has an outlet nozzle 3 and an inlet 12 formed therein. The compartment 2 is separated from the area of the body in which the nozzle 3 is fo~med by means of a wall 4. The top 5 of the package 1 has four longitudinal ribs 6 moulded to the underside thereof which are shown as a plurality of dotted lines in Figure 2. The four ribs 6 are joined at either end by transverse ribs 7 which are also shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. The ribs 6 and 7 are strengthened at intervals by posts 8 which are also moulded to the underside of the top 5 of package 1.
These posts 8 are also shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. A filter material 9 is heat sealed to ribs 6, ribs 7 and posts 8, the filter material 9 axtends across a substantial part o~ the top of compartment 2.
Compartment 2 is separated from the outlet nozzle by a wall 4 and ~urrounded on its other three sides by a U-shaped wall ~0. The wall 10 has a U-shaped channel 11 surrounding it, the channel 11 communicating with inlet 12~ The wall 10 has a plurality o~ small slots 13 formed in the two longitudinal arms thereof.
In use oP the beverage package as shown in the drawings, the bottom of the package 1 is sealed by means o~ an aluminium foil or a laminated foil which is heat sealed to the lower edges of walls 4 and 10 and to the lower edge 14 o~ the package. Water enters the package at a pressure of about 105Pa via inlet 12 which i8 opened by piercing or cutting the material covering the said opening. The water enters the channel 11 surrounding three sides of the compartment 2 containiny the beverage ingredients.
The water, which is under pressure, is forced throuqh the elongate slots 13 formed in the wall 10 which separates channel 11 from compartment 2. The water mixes with the beverage preparation ingredients , . :
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contained in compartment 2 and is forced upwardly through the beverage preparation ingredients. The beverage formed by passage of the water through the beverage preparation ingredients passes through filter material 9 into passages 15 which are formed between the rib~ 6. The sealing of the filter material 9 onto ribs 6 and 7 prevents any short circuit and all of the beverage has to pass through the filter. The passages 15 are closecl at the end remote ~rom the outlet by transverse rib 7. The beverage formed by the passage of water throuyh the beverage preparation ingredients also passes directly through the filter material 9 into areas 16 which communicate with passages 15. The beverage passes along passages lS, commingles with the beverage collected in areas 16 and is then funnelled by means of angled extension~ 17 of the middle two ribs 6 over a weir 18 to a beverage collection area 19 and thence into outlet nozzle 3. The beverage is then collected in a cup or other receptacle placed below the outlet nozzle 3. It may be desirable to support the filter material 9 by means of additional support ribs in the passages 15 in order to prevent the ~ilter material from bowing and sealing the passages.
Additional strengthening of the package of the invention i~ provided in the area adjacent the outlet nozzle, as best shown in Figure 4, by a hollow post 20 which is attached by ribs 21 arranged in cruciform fashion to the end wall 22, side wall 27 and wall 4.
Using the beverage package as illustrated in ~igures 1 to 5 it is possible to prepare 160 ml of coffee ~rom ro~st and ground coffee contained in compartment 2 in 20 seconds by passing water at a pressure of 105Pa throuqh the package.
The beverage package as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 incorporates the recognition means which is a .~ . - - , : :, , . ~ , : . .
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preferred feature of the invention. The package of the inVentiQn 1 containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients has a genexally rectangular shape with flat top and bottom surfaces and is thereby suitable for insertion into a beverage preparation machine, for example of the type as described in our European Patent Application No.
89302708.6, longitudinally through a slot.
The package is also provided, as best shown in - 10 Figure 2, with teeth 25 moulded along one side wall of compartment 2. The teeth 25 have recesses 26 formed therebetween. These teeth 25 are intended to enable the beverage package to be driven through a beverage preparation machine by the engagement of the teeth 25 with tha tooth of a cam ~not ~hown). The side wall 27 of th~ beverage package has a flange 28 extending at right angles thereto. The flange 23 has an upstanding rib 30 at the end thereo~ near to the leading end 29 of the package.
As the package is driven into the beverage preparation machine the flange 28 is sensed as the side edge of the package passes beneath a sensing arm (not shown)O The ~lange 28 has a plurality o~
upstanding pegs 31,32,33,34 located therein and as the package is driven into the machine by the engagement of the teeth 25 with the tooth of a cam, the sensor senses the presence or absence of upstanding pegs 31,32,33,34.
If one or more of pegs 31,32,33,34 is not present the sensing arm will thereby identify a different type o~ beverage package. The sensing arm operates a switch (not shown) which thereby transmits information concerning the presence or absence of the pegs on the package to the control mechanism for the beverage dispensing machine. The arrangement of pegs 31,32,33,34 on the package thus identifies the type ': '' . ' ' :
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of package to the controller which then selects the appropriate beverage preparation conditions.
The presence or absence of three pegs provides scope for the sensing arm to sense up to 8 different types of beverage packages. Thus, if the presence of a peg at a particular location is coded as 1 and the absence of a peg coded as 0, the following code combinations can be achieved.
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101 ., 110 ,j The presence of the additional fourth pe~ ~ormed in flange 8 provides an even larger number o~ code combinations.
When the beverage preparation machine has selected the appropriate beverage preparation conditions, the water inlet 12 of the package is piarced or cut, the outlet 3 iB uncGvered in the package and water caused to flow under pressure through the compartment containing the beverage ingredient(s). The chosen beverage then being collected in a cup or receptacle placed below the outlet 3 of the package.
It will be appreciated that for different ~ypes of packages the beverage or other ingredient may require signi~icantly different treatment. Thus, some beverages will be prepared with hot water and some with cold water, whilst others, such as espresso coffee, will require a smaller amount of water for 3S their preparation. Preparation times may require to be varied. Similarly water and/or air may be ,, . . ~ , - - .
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required either for preparing/dispensing the beverage/
content of the package or for the purpose of pre-cleaning an inlet pipe or flushing out a used package. Furthermore, a~user may require a particular beverage to be dispensed in combination with one or more ingre~ients~ ~ro~ independent sources, e.g~ powdered milk and/or sugar.
The present invention will be further illustrated with reference to the following non-limiting Example.
E~AMP~
The following experiments were conducted in respect of the preparation of beverages from coffee capsules, adapted for upward or downward filtration, which had been subject to vibration during transport and distributionO The capsules were each tapped ::
prior to the preparation of the beverages.
~ownw~r~ Filtration 8~m13 ~
6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adapted for downward filtration gave 153cc of a coffes beverage at 0.8~ solids with a yield of 19.4~. -~am~la 2 6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adapted ~or downward fitration gave 153cc of a coffee beverage at 0.81% solids with a yield of 19.7%.
30 ~pwar~_F~ltration :~
~ample 3 6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adapted for upward filtration, when brewed in the same manner as for samples 1 and 2, gave 156cc of a coffee beverage at 1.04% solids with a yield of ~5.7%.
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- ~5 ~amPle-4 6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adpated for upward filtration, when brewed in the same manner as for samples 1 and 2~ gave 158cc of ~ :
a coffee beverage at 1.02% solids with a yield of 25.6~.
These results indicate an improvement of approximately 20% yield. .' :' ... .. , ,,.. .. . , -, . . .
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The present invention relates to packages containing ingredients for the preparation of beverages and, in particular, to sealed packages which are formed from a substantially air-and water-impermeable material and which contain one or more ingredients ~or the preparation of beverages.
It has pre~iously been proposed to seal beverage preparation ingredients in individual air-impermeable packages. For example, cartridges or capsules containing compacted ground cof~ee are known for use in certain coffee maXing machines which are generally termed "espresso" machines. In the production of coffee using these coffee machines the coffee cartridge is placed in a brewing chamber and hot water is generally caused to pass under pressure through the cartridge, thereby extracting the aromatic coffee constituents from the ground coffee and producing a coffee beverage.
Cartridges containing roast and yround coffee in which hot water flows under gravimetric ~orce through the cartridge are also known. A cartrid~e of this general type is described in British Patent No~
1397116.
In our European Patent Application No. 87311325.2 thers is described a package which contains at least one beverage preparation ingredient, e.y. roast and ground coffee. In a preferred embodiment the package is ~ormed from a substantially air and water-impermeable material and comprises a sealed body portion having a compartment containing the beverage ingredient and an outlet channel, the compartment and the outlet channel co-operating in such a manner that, in use, the beverage is filtered, thereby avoiding the necessity ~or an external filter.
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There is also described in European Patent Application No. 87311325.2, a method for preparing a beverage which comprises positioning a beverage containing package at a brewing station, introducing water through water introduction means into the package, allowing the water to commingle with the beverage ingredient, and collecting the beverage so~formed through an outlet formed in the package.
The beverage packages as described in European Patent Application No. 87311325.2 are primarily intended to be used with a beverage preparation machine which handles the pacXages automatically or semi-automatically. A machine of this type is described in our European Patent Application No.
89302708.6. The packages may contain roast and ground co~fee, leaf ~ea or one or more pvwdered beverage preparation ingredients such as powdered chocolate, powdered coffee or powdered soup.
We have now developed a package containing one or more ingredients for the preparation of beverages in which a filter is disposed in such a manner that the beverage ~o produced is filtered upwardly through the filter.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a beverage package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients and being ~ormed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the said package comprising a compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), an inlet which communicates with the said compartment and an outlet, a filter being disposed between the compartment and at least a part of the under surface of the top of the package, one or more passages being formed between the filter and the top of the package, which passage(~) communic~te with the outlet whereby, in use, a liquid medium is passed into the -.. ..
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compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), filtered upwardly through the filter and collected through the outlet.
The beverage package o~ the present invention preferably has a body portion which may be formedl for example, from a moulded plastics material. The inlet and~or outlet of the package may be closed by a plug of a plastics material moulded into the inlet and/or outlet nozzle during the moulding of the body portion. Alternatively, the inlet and/or outlet may be covered by a substantially air- and water-impermeable material, for example aluminium foil or a laminated material, such as a laminate of plastic material/metal foil/plastic material, prior to the opening of the inlet and/or outlet. Specific examples of materials which can be used are aluminium foil having a thickness in the range of from 30 to 60 micrometres coated with a layer of polypropylene or a laminate of polypropylene/aluminium foil/polyester.
The outlet in the package may be prepared during the beverage preparation cycle using a cutting and piercing tool for example of the type as described in our ~uropean Patent Application No. B9302708.6.
Alternatively, the inlet and/or outlet may be op~n and the beverage package provided with an outer wrapping or the like. For example, a plurality of packages may be provided with a shrink wrapped outer layer.
In the packages of the present invention, the communication between the inlet and the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s) is preferably via a channel which is separated from the compartment by a wall which has a plurality of openings formed therein for the entry of a liguid medium into the compartment. The channel preferably extends alony at least one side o~ the compartment, :: ;: ~ , , :, ' ', ; ' `: ' :~: ` : ' .' 4 ~
more preferably along three sides of the compartment. The openings in the wall are preferably in the form of elongate slots which are generally arranged in a manner such that an even distribution of the liquid medium through the beverage preparation ingredients i5 acheived.
~ he filter is preferably made from a material with a high wet strength, for example a non-woven polyester fibre material or polypropylene. Other materials which may be used include a water-permeable cellulosic material, such as a cellulosic material comprising woven paper fibres. The wo~en paper fibres may ba admixed with fibres of polypropylene, pol~vinyl-chloride and/or polyethylene. The incorporation of these plastics materials into the cellulosic material renders the cellulosic material heat-sealable. The filter material may also be coated with a material which is activated by heat and~or pressure so that it can readily be sealed to ~0 ribs formed in the under surface of the top of the package, thereby forming one or more passages which communicate with the outletO
The beverage preparation ingredients contained in the packages of the invention are preferably roast and ground ooffee, or leaf tea, and according to individual taste, powd~red milk or creamer, sugar or artificial sweetner.
It will be understood that it may be convenient for the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredients to be separated into two or more sections, for example, one section containing roast and ground coffee and another section containing powdered milk or creamer. In such an arrangement the means for the entry of the liquid medium into the separate compartments would be varied to suit the requirements for filtration or . -, : ,:
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dissolution of the particular ingredients.
The package of the presant invention, when filled with roast and ground cofPee, preferably contains from 2.5 to 10 grams of roast and ground coffee, preferably from 4.5 to 6 grams for the preparation of a single cup. However, packages which are intended to provide multiple servings of coPfee will contain an appropriate amount of roast and ground coffee, for example, packages intended to provide say five CUp5 of coffee will contain from 20 to 50 grams of roast and ground coffee, preferably from 25 to 30 grams.
The roast and ground coffee is generally compacted when the beverage package is filled in order to aid the distribution and tran~port of water through the package.
In use of the beverage packages of the present invention a liguid medium is passed via the inlet of the package into the compartment contalning the beverage preparation ingredient(s~. The filter is disposed at the top of the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s) and the liquid medium is thereby caused to ~low upwardly through the beverage preparation ingredients. The beverage so formed flows upwardly through the filter into the passage or passage~ which communicate with the outlet.
Filtering the beverage in an upwardly direction has been found to be advantageous in that the smaller and lighter particles of the beverage preparation ingredients settle to the bottom of the compartment and hence the clogging of the filter by these small particles is mitigated. The beverage thus filters more rapidly upwardly through the Pilter than it would if the fllter were placed beneath the bevera~e ingredients and the liquid medium cau~ed to flow in a downwardly direction. Furthermore, the flow of water .. . . .
': ' .: '' '' ,'. ` ' . "
, ' - . ' ' ' in an upwardly direction through the package is advantageous in that the particles of the beverage preparation ingredient(s) float up towards the filter, thereby re-establishing the filter bed. This is of particular advantage i~ the particles of the beverage preparation ingredient(s) have settled during transport and/or storage and if holes or cracks have formed in the bed. The upward filtration causes the filter bed to re~estabilish in these situations, thereby providing a more effective filtration of the beverage preparation ingredient(s). With regaxd to the preparation o~ a beverage from tea leaves the upward filtration is particularly advantageous because the tea leaves float initially and then sink and the configuration of the bevera~e packag2s of the present invention prevents the wetted tea leaves from blinding the filter.
The quality of the ~iltration of beverage preparation ingredients, in particular roast and ground coffee, is known to affect the ~lavour of the beverage. The brewing and flavour characteristics for roast and ground coffee charge with the roasting and grinding conditions and are e~fected by the size and shapa of the particles. The beverage packages o~
the present invention enable efficient filtration to be achieved and thereby give rise to beverages which have little or no turbidity and a good flavour.
Another advantage of the package of the present invention is that with the continuous flow of water in an upwardly direction through the package a more effective wetting of the beverage preparation ingredient(s) is achieved. This is of importance for roast and ground coffee since the wetting of the particles causes the particles to swell and thus assists in preventing fine particles from passing : .. . - , , ,:
, . . .
: . . ~ ~ . :
: ~ : . - ~ .
7 ~ i $
through the ~ilter. It will be appreciated that for the preparation of coffee from roast and ground coffee, or the preparation of tea from leaf tea, the liquid medium is hot water.
The present invention also includes within its scope a method for the preparation of a beverage from a sealed package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients located in a compartment in the package, which method comprises introducing a - 10 liquid medium suitable for the preparation of the beverage under pressure into the package through an inlet ~ormed therein, causing the liquid medium to ent~r the compartment thereby forming the beverage, filtering the beverage in an upwardly direction through a ~ilter, and collecting the beverage so formed from an outlet formed in the package. ~:
The packages of the present invention are preferably provided with a recognition ~eans whereby, in use, the package is identified by khe machine into 20 which it is placed for treatment and the .
identification of the packags thereby causes it to he subjected to the correct treatment steps including the introduction of a liguid medium into the package. For the preparation of beverages from beverage preparation ingredients the liquid medium introduced into the package will generally be water or a water/air mixture. ::
The recognition means may comprise one or more surface features formed in the body of the beverage package~ For example, the package body may be provided with one or more indents, cut outs, '.
protrusions or holes which can be identi~ied by a mechanical sensor in the beverage preparation machine, the mechanical sensor registering the presence or absence of the indents, cut outs, protrusions or holes.
. , : ~ - ............................ . .
.
'' ~ . ' ' The recognition means may, alternatively, comprise a system which can be sensed by a simple optical device, for example a bar code printed onto the body of the package, a pattern of through holes in the package, a pattern of contrasting tones or colours printed onto the package or packages containing different comestible~ being of different colours.
The recognition means may also comprise one or more strips of a magnPtic material applied to the body of the package which can be read by an appropriate magnetic sensor; one or more shaped or divided areas of metal foil applied to the package body which cause an inductive e~ect on movement of the package in the machine, which inductive effect can be sensed;.or one or more electrically conductive areas ~ormed on the body of the package which can be sensed electrically.
A~ mentioned above, the package of the present invention contains one or more beverage preparation ingredients, for example, roast and ground coffee or leaf tea and sugar and/or creamer, as desired. one machine which can readily be adapted for the preparation of a beverage from the preferred beverage package of the invention which includes a recognition means is described in our European Patent Applicatio No. 89302708.6. The only modi~ication required to be made to such a beveraye preparation machine is to incorporate an appropriate sensor or sensors into it, the sensor or sensors being designed to read the particular coding on the capsule and to send a signal to the controller, which then selects the appropriate beverage preparation cycle.
The recognition system used on the beverage packages of the present invention enables a single beverage preparation machine to prepare from . . : .. .,i ., :
.. ~ . :.. . .- .- : :
. .
.
.: .. . - ,.; i , , .: ~ , : :
- 9 ~
different beverage packayes a great number o~
different beverages which require different beverage preparation conditions.
The packages of the present invention may be treated by a machine which includes therein on~ or more sensors which are adapted to sense and identify a recognition means provided on a package inserted into the machine.
The sensor may be, for example, a mechanical sensor, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, an electrical sensor or an inductive sensor. The machine is preferably adapted 50 that the package is handled automatically following its insertion into the machine. For example, a machine of the type as described in our European Patent Applicakion No.
8~302708.6 can be fitted with an appropriate sensor to sense and identify a recognition means provided on beverage packages intended for use therewith.
The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of abeverage package of the invention:
~ igure 2 is a top plan vlew of the beverage package o~ Figure l;
Figure 3 is a section through the beverage package of Figure 1 along line A-A of Figure 2; ;-Figure 4 is a section throuyh the beverage package o~ Figure 1 along line B-B of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a section along the line C-C of Figure 2;
Referring to the drawings a beverage package body is shown at 1. The body may be formed, for example, from a moulded plastics material. The body 1 has a compartment 2 in which the beverage preparation ingredient or ingredients are contained. The package - : , ,: : . , -, ,. :..: .: :
' t~
body has an outlet nozzle 3 and an inlet 12 formed therein. The compartment 2 is separated from the area of the body in which the nozzle 3 is fo~med by means of a wall 4. The top 5 of the package 1 has four longitudinal ribs 6 moulded to the underside thereof which are shown as a plurality of dotted lines in Figure 2. The four ribs 6 are joined at either end by transverse ribs 7 which are also shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. The ribs 6 and 7 are strengthened at intervals by posts 8 which are also moulded to the underside of the top 5 of package 1.
These posts 8 are also shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. A filter material 9 is heat sealed to ribs 6, ribs 7 and posts 8, the filter material 9 axtends across a substantial part o~ the top of compartment 2.
Compartment 2 is separated from the outlet nozzle by a wall 4 and ~urrounded on its other three sides by a U-shaped wall ~0. The wall 10 has a U-shaped channel 11 surrounding it, the channel 11 communicating with inlet 12~ The wall 10 has a plurality o~ small slots 13 formed in the two longitudinal arms thereof.
In use oP the beverage package as shown in the drawings, the bottom of the package 1 is sealed by means o~ an aluminium foil or a laminated foil which is heat sealed to the lower edges of walls 4 and 10 and to the lower edge 14 o~ the package. Water enters the package at a pressure of about 105Pa via inlet 12 which i8 opened by piercing or cutting the material covering the said opening. The water enters the channel 11 surrounding three sides of the compartment 2 containiny the beverage ingredients.
The water, which is under pressure, is forced throuqh the elongate slots 13 formed in the wall 10 which separates channel 11 from compartment 2. The water mixes with the beverage preparation ingredients , . :
.
-11- 2li39..~
contained in compartment 2 and is forced upwardly through the beverage preparation ingredients. The beverage formed by passage of the water through the beverage preparation ingredients passes through filter material 9 into passages 15 which are formed between the rib~ 6. The sealing of the filter material 9 onto ribs 6 and 7 prevents any short circuit and all of the beverage has to pass through the filter. The passages 15 are closecl at the end remote ~rom the outlet by transverse rib 7. The beverage formed by the passage of water throuyh the beverage preparation ingredients also passes directly through the filter material 9 into areas 16 which communicate with passages 15. The beverage passes along passages lS, commingles with the beverage collected in areas 16 and is then funnelled by means of angled extension~ 17 of the middle two ribs 6 over a weir 18 to a beverage collection area 19 and thence into outlet nozzle 3. The beverage is then collected in a cup or other receptacle placed below the outlet nozzle 3. It may be desirable to support the filter material 9 by means of additional support ribs in the passages 15 in order to prevent the ~ilter material from bowing and sealing the passages.
Additional strengthening of the package of the invention i~ provided in the area adjacent the outlet nozzle, as best shown in Figure 4, by a hollow post 20 which is attached by ribs 21 arranged in cruciform fashion to the end wall 22, side wall 27 and wall 4.
Using the beverage package as illustrated in ~igures 1 to 5 it is possible to prepare 160 ml of coffee ~rom ro~st and ground coffee contained in compartment 2 in 20 seconds by passing water at a pressure of 105Pa throuqh the package.
The beverage package as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 incorporates the recognition means which is a .~ . - - , : :, , . ~ , : . .
. . . .
- 12 ~ f~3 ~t ~ Jc~
preferred feature of the invention. The package of the inVentiQn 1 containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients has a genexally rectangular shape with flat top and bottom surfaces and is thereby suitable for insertion into a beverage preparation machine, for example of the type as described in our European Patent Application No.
89302708.6, longitudinally through a slot.
The package is also provided, as best shown in - 10 Figure 2, with teeth 25 moulded along one side wall of compartment 2. The teeth 25 have recesses 26 formed therebetween. These teeth 25 are intended to enable the beverage package to be driven through a beverage preparation machine by the engagement of the teeth 25 with tha tooth of a cam ~not ~hown). The side wall 27 of th~ beverage package has a flange 28 extending at right angles thereto. The flange 23 has an upstanding rib 30 at the end thereo~ near to the leading end 29 of the package.
As the package is driven into the beverage preparation machine the flange 28 is sensed as the side edge of the package passes beneath a sensing arm (not shown)O The ~lange 28 has a plurality o~
upstanding pegs 31,32,33,34 located therein and as the package is driven into the machine by the engagement of the teeth 25 with the tooth of a cam, the sensor senses the presence or absence of upstanding pegs 31,32,33,34.
If one or more of pegs 31,32,33,34 is not present the sensing arm will thereby identify a different type o~ beverage package. The sensing arm operates a switch (not shown) which thereby transmits information concerning the presence or absence of the pegs on the package to the control mechanism for the beverage dispensing machine. The arrangement of pegs 31,32,33,34 on the package thus identifies the type ': '' . ' ' :
'.:
- 13 - r~ ? r~
of package to the controller which then selects the appropriate beverage preparation conditions.
The presence or absence of three pegs provides scope for the sensing arm to sense up to 8 different types of beverage packages. Thus, if the presence of a peg at a particular location is coded as 1 and the absence of a peg coded as 0, the following code combinations can be achieved.
100 `.
101 ., 110 ,j The presence of the additional fourth pe~ ~ormed in flange 8 provides an even larger number o~ code combinations.
When the beverage preparation machine has selected the appropriate beverage preparation conditions, the water inlet 12 of the package is piarced or cut, the outlet 3 iB uncGvered in the package and water caused to flow under pressure through the compartment containing the beverage ingredient(s). The chosen beverage then being collected in a cup or receptacle placed below the outlet 3 of the package.
It will be appreciated that for different ~ypes of packages the beverage or other ingredient may require signi~icantly different treatment. Thus, some beverages will be prepared with hot water and some with cold water, whilst others, such as espresso coffee, will require a smaller amount of water for 3S their preparation. Preparation times may require to be varied. Similarly water and/or air may be ,, . . ~ , - - .
, , . . . .
.
- 14 - ~?~
required either for preparing/dispensing the beverage/
content of the package or for the purpose of pre-cleaning an inlet pipe or flushing out a used package. Furthermore, a~user may require a particular beverage to be dispensed in combination with one or more ingre~ients~ ~ro~ independent sources, e.g~ powdered milk and/or sugar.
The present invention will be further illustrated with reference to the following non-limiting Example.
E~AMP~
The following experiments were conducted in respect of the preparation of beverages from coffee capsules, adapted for upward or downward filtration, which had been subject to vibration during transport and distributionO The capsules were each tapped ::
prior to the preparation of the beverages.
~ownw~r~ Filtration 8~m13 ~
6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adapted for downward filtration gave 153cc of a coffes beverage at 0.8~ solids with a yield of 19.4~. -~am~la 2 6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adapted ~or downward fitration gave 153cc of a coffee beverage at 0.81% solids with a yield of 19.7%.
30 ~pwar~_F~ltration :~
~ample 3 6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adapted for upward filtration, when brewed in the same manner as for samples 1 and 2, gave 156cc of a coffee beverage at 1.04% solids with a yield of ~5.7%.
...
.
. :, .
~ : ,: , ~
. .
- ~5 ~amPle-4 6.3g of roast and ground coffee contained in a capsule adpated for upward filtration, when brewed in the same manner as for samples 1 and 2~ gave 158cc of ~ :
a coffee beverage at 1.02% solids with a yield of 25.6~.
These results indicate an improvement of approximately 20% yield. .' :' ... .. , ,,.. .. . , -, . . .
- ' ~ . . , , ~
,
Claims (23)
1. A beverage package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the said package comprising a compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), an inlet which communicates with the said compartment, and an outlet, a filter being disposed between the compartment and at least a part of the under surface of the top of the package, one or more passages being formed between the filter and the top of the package, which passage(s) communicate with the outlet whereby, in use, a liquid medium is passed into the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s), filtered upwardly through the filter and collected through the outlet.
2. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet and/or the outlet is covered by an air- and water-impermeable material prior to the formation, in use, of an outlet in the package.
3. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet and/or the outlet is closed by a plug prior to the formation, in use, of an outlet in the package.
4. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein a channel communicates with the inlet for the entry of a liquid medium into the package, the channel being separated from the compartment by a wall which has a plurality of openings formed therein for the entry of the liquid medium into the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s).
5. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the channel extends along at least one side of the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredient(s).
6. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the channel extends around three sides of the compartment contain the beverage preparation ingredient(s).
7. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the openings comprise a plurality of elongate slots.
8. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the filter is made from a water-permeable material.
9. A package as claimed in claim 8 wherein a plurality of passages are formed between the filter and top of the package.
10. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the beverage preparation ingredient is leaf tea or roast and ground coffee.
11. A package as claimed in claim 1 which is provided with a recognition means whereby, in use, the package is identified by the machine into which it is placed for treatment therefrom and the identification of the package thereby causes it to be subjected to the correct treatment steps including the introduction of a fluid medium into the package.
12. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises one or more surface features formed in the body of the package.
13. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises a bar code.
14. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises a pattern of holes formed in the body of the package.
15. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises a pattern of contrasting tones or colours.
16. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises one or more strips of a magnetic material.
_ 18 _
_ 18 _
17. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises an inductive device.
18. A package as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recognition means comprises a plurality of electrically conductive means.
19. A method for the preparation of a beverage from a sealed package containing one or more beverage preparation ingredients located in a compartment in the package, which method comprises introducing a liquid medium suitable for the preparation of the beverage under pressure into the package through an inlet formed therein, causing the liquid medium to enter the compartment thereby forming the beverage, filtering the beverage in an upwardly direction through a filter, and collecting the beverage so formed from an outlet formed in the package.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the inlet and/or outlet in the package is/are formed by means of a piercing and cutting tool.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the liquid medium is water.
22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the flow of the liquid medium into the compartment containing the beverage preparation ingredients is achieved by causing the liquid to flow through one or more restricted openings into the said compartment.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the restricted openings are elongate slots.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9007149.9 | 1990-03-30 | ||
| GB909007149A GB9007149D0 (en) | 1990-03-30 | 1990-03-30 | Comestibles containing packages |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2039256A1 true CA2039256A1 (en) | 1991-10-01 |
Family
ID=10673548
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002039256A Abandoned CA2039256A1 (en) | 1990-03-30 | 1991-03-27 | Beverage packages |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0455337B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04224716A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR910016584A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE106833T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2039256A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69102347T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2055532T3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB9007149D0 (en) |
| HK (1) | HK1007131A1 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE69326657T2 (en) * | 1992-03-02 | 2000-03-02 | Seiko Instr Inc | POSITION INPUT DEVICE AND INPUT KEYBOARD |
| GB9316717D0 (en) * | 1993-08-11 | 1993-09-29 | Gen Foods Ltd | Cartridge and method for the preparation fo whipped beverages |
| US6758130B2 (en) | 2001-03-16 | 2004-07-06 | The Procter + Gamble Co. | Beverage brewing devices for preparing creamy beverages |
| DE20105672U1 (en) | 2001-03-31 | 2001-09-13 | Eugster Frismag Ag Romanshorn | Espresso brewing device |
| GB2397496B (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2005-04-20 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2397502B (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2005-06-29 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2397495B (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2005-01-26 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2397500B (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2005-03-23 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge for the preparation of beverages |
| JP4227170B2 (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2009-02-18 | クラフト・フーヅ・リサーチ・アンド・ディベロップメント・インコーポレイテッド | Cartridge and method for preparing a beverage |
| BRPI0406896A (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2006-01-03 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge, plurality of cartridges, and method of manufacturing a cartridge |
| US7640843B2 (en) | 2003-01-24 | 2010-01-05 | Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. | Cartridge and method for the preparation of beverages |
| DE102004002005A1 (en) | 2004-01-14 | 2005-08-11 | Schifferle, René | Portion capsule with ground coffee for making a coffee beverage |
| GB2413479B (en) * | 2004-02-17 | 2006-06-28 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | An insert and a system for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2411106B (en) | 2004-02-17 | 2006-11-22 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge for the preparation of beverages |
| GB2413480B (en) | 2004-02-17 | 2006-08-30 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | An insert and a system for the preparation of beverages |
| DK1774878T3 (en) * | 2005-10-14 | 2008-05-26 | Nestec Sa | Process for making a beverage from a capsule |
| EP2266446A1 (en) | 2007-03-29 | 2010-12-29 | Tchibo GmbH | System with a drinks dispensing machine and with portion capsules |
| GB2454656A (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2009-05-20 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | A beverage cartridge |
| EP2233051B1 (en) | 2009-03-27 | 2014-05-07 | Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. | Beverage concentrates |
| GB2469873B (en) * | 2009-05-01 | 2011-09-07 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Beverage preparation machines |
| US9663288B2 (en) | 2009-08-29 | 2017-05-30 | Psr Profitable Strategic Redeployment Sàrl | Pouch for preparing a beverage |
| WO2011029813A1 (en) | 2009-09-09 | 2011-03-17 | Nestec S.A. | Beverage machine in a network |
| GB2474679B (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2011-10-19 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Cartridge for the preparation of beverages |
| MX343345B (en) | 2010-05-12 | 2016-11-01 | Nestec Sa | Support, capsule, system and method for preparing a beverage by centrifugation. |
| DE202010007919U1 (en) | 2010-06-12 | 2010-11-11 | Mahlich, David | Portion capsule for powdered or liquid beverage base materials |
| CA2803217A1 (en) * | 2010-06-28 | 2012-01-05 | Nestec S.A. | Capsule sensing system |
| PT3023362T (en) | 2010-07-22 | 2018-04-04 | K Fee System Gmbh | Portion capsule having an identifier |
| GB2488799A (en) | 2011-03-08 | 2012-09-12 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Drinks Pod without Piercing of Outer Shell |
| USD694620S1 (en) | 2011-03-08 | 2013-12-03 | Kraft Foods R&D, Inc. | Beverage cartridge |
| GB2489409B (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2013-05-15 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | A capsule and a system for, and a method of, preparing a beverage |
| US10143214B2 (en) * | 2012-07-06 | 2018-12-04 | Conopco, Inc. | Method and device for brewing a beverage |
| USD708057S1 (en) | 2012-09-10 | 2014-07-01 | Kraft Foods R & D, Inc. | Beverage cartridge |
| USD697797S1 (en) | 2012-09-12 | 2014-01-21 | Kraft Foods R&D, Inc. | Beverage cartridge |
| US9783361B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-10-10 | Starbucks Corporation | Stretchable beverage cartridges and methods |
| EP2781174B1 (en) | 2013-03-21 | 2015-08-19 | Unilever PLC | Method, device and capsule for brewing a beverage |
| US10442610B2 (en) | 2014-03-11 | 2019-10-15 | Starbucks Corporation | Pod-based restrictors and methods |
| USD757536S1 (en) | 2014-10-01 | 2016-05-31 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Container |
| US10450131B2 (en) | 2014-10-01 | 2019-10-22 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Coffee pod |
| US9877495B2 (en) | 2015-01-09 | 2018-01-30 | Starbucks Corporation | Method of making a sweetened soluble beverage product |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS61145179U (en) * | 1985-02-28 | 1986-09-08 | ||
| GB8806668D0 (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1988-04-20 | Gen Foods Ltd | Method for preparing beverages & beverage preparing machines |
| JPH0741969Y2 (en) * | 1989-01-12 | 1995-09-27 | 日本バルカー工業株式会社 | O-ring |
-
1990
- 1990-03-30 GB GB909007149A patent/GB9007149D0/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-03-22 EP EP91302538A patent/EP0455337B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-22 ES ES91302538T patent/ES2055532T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-22 AT AT91302538T patent/ATE106833T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-03-22 DE DE69102347T patent/DE69102347T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-27 CA CA002039256A patent/CA2039256A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-03-29 KR KR1019910004998A patent/KR910016584A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1991-03-30 JP JP3067343A patent/JPH04224716A/en active Pending
-
1998
- 1998-06-24 HK HK98106404A patent/HK1007131A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR910016584A (en) | 1991-11-05 |
| GB9007149D0 (en) | 1990-05-30 |
| DE69102347T2 (en) | 1994-09-29 |
| EP0455337B1 (en) | 1994-06-08 |
| ES2055532T3 (en) | 1994-08-16 |
| HK1007131A1 (en) | 1999-04-01 |
| JPH04224716A (en) | 1992-08-14 |
| ATE106833T1 (en) | 1994-06-15 |
| DE69102347D1 (en) | 1994-07-14 |
| EP0455337A1 (en) | 1991-11-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 19930928 |