AU2017101226A4 - Food and/or beverage preparation system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A food and/or beverage preparation system includes a tray (20) having a plurality of receptacles (22), an upper perimeter of the tray defining a flange (21), and a peelable film (30) bonded to the flange (21), the film (30) being adapted to hermetically seal each of the receptacles (22), wherein the receptacles (22) enclose a pre-portioned volume of acai berry puree (43) ready for blending to prepare food or a beverage. The acai berry puree (43) food or beverage is prepared by removing the peelable film (30); unloading frozen acai berry puree (43) or a pre mixture of acai berry puree (343) and at least one further ingredient from the receptacles (22) into a blender; and blending the frozen contents.

Description

"Food and/or beverage preparation system and method"

Technical Field [ 1 ] The present invention relates to a food and/or beverage preparation system and method. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for preparing acai berry puree food and/or beverages such as acai bowls or acai smoothies.

Background [2] Acai berries are dark purple coloured fruits that grow in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The berries grow near the tops of palm trees and are often wild harvested. The berries have been found to have health benefits due to the fact that the pulp and the skin contain high levels of antioxidants, amino acids, fibre, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. As a result, the berries have become a very popular ingredient in health food products, in particular in smoothies and in foods such as acai bowls.

[3] A smoothie is a popular blended beverage made with ingredients such as, but not limited to, fruit, vegetables, crushed ice, dairy products or dairy replacement products and protein powders. Acai bowls have gained popularity more recently as a breakfast food in particular, in which frozen acai berry puree may be blended with water or other liquids and served either on its own or blended with other fruits and berries, and topped with banana, granola, coconut, raw cacao and other ingredients. However, the acai berries are difficult and laborious to harvest, and must be processed, i.e. freeze dried within 24 hours to maintain the nutritional benefits. As a result, acai berries are harvested and processed in Brazil and exported to overseas markets, such as Australia and the U.S., for use.

[4] Acai berries are currently available in Australia and in other countries either in powdered form or in small or large pouches or buckets in frozen pureed form. Whilst the powdered form is useful as a supplement or dry ingredient in food or beverages, the raw puree form is desirable as it has undergone minimal processing compared to powdered forms and may thus better retain its nutrients. Food service outlets such as cafes, restaurants, gyms, schools and hotels increasingly wish to prepare food and/or beverages from the pureed acai berries.

[5] However, due to the product format in which acai berry puree is imported into Australia and other countries, extracting the puree in the desired quantity for a smoothie or an acai bowl is time consuming, difficult and requires skill and labour.

[6] The plastic pouches or buckets of frozen acai puree contain a larger amount of puree than is required and are too large for an individual sized portion of a beverage or food. When a customer orders a smoothie or acai bowl at a commercial establishment, the server must cut open the pouch with a knife or remove the lid from the bucket and squeeze or cut out the desired portion amount from the pouch or cut the desired amount out from the bucket. This process is time consuming, as the puree needs to be prepared before it is placed into the blender. Similarly, if a smoothie or acai bowl is prepared at home, the time taken to prepare the acai puree in the desired portion may not be available, for example when preparing a quick breakfast when time is short.

[7] If the server or kitchen staff member does not measure the puree portion, there is a risk of the preparation process producing more volume of smoothie or acai bowl than is required.

This results in wastage, and the excess volume is unlikely to be saleable. Any such wastage is environmentally undesirable and, particularly as acai berries are expensive, financially undesirable for a business owner.

[8] A further drawback with existing acai berry puree preparation is the risk of contamination of the puree, for example by unhygienic food handling. There is also a risk that a server/user or kitchen staff member might injure themselves whilst manually cutting the hard blocks of frozen puree in the pouches or in cutting out the hard frozen puree from the pouches or buckets. There is also a risk of the plastic material of the pouch contaminating the puree. These drawbacks may be of particular concerns when young or inexperienced staff members are involved, that may not have the necessary skills and training to complete the task safely.

[9] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary [10] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[11] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a food and/or beverage preparation system comprising a tray having a plurality of receptacles, an upper perimeter of the tray defining a flange; and a peelable film bonded to the flange, the film and tray being adapted to hermetically seal each of the receptacles, wherein the receptacles enclose a pre-portioned volume of acai berry puree.

[12] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of preparing an acai berry food or beverage, the method including the steps of: obtaining a frozen tray having a plurality of receptacles, an upper perimeter of the tray defining a flange, wherein a peelable film is bonded to the flange, the film being adapted to hermetically seal the receptacles; removing the peelable film; unloading frozen acai berry puree or a pre-mixture of acai berry puree and at least one further ingredient from the receptacles into a blender; and blending the frozen contents.

Brief Description of Drawings [13] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of specific example(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [14] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray of a food and/or beverage preparation system; [15] Fig.2 is a side view of the tray of Fig. 1; and [16] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of a method of preparing an acai berry food or beverage.

Description of Embodiments [17] A beverage preparation apparatus 10 and method is disclosed herein. The apparatus 10 includes a tray 20. The tray 20 is depicted in perspective view in Fig. 1. In the embodiment depicted, the tray 20 includes six receptacles 22, each receptacle 22 being generally rectangular in top view and approximately equal in size. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the tray 20 may be manufactured in other shapes and sizes, and with receptacles 22 of differing volumes and shapes, and conceivably having differing volume receptacles 22 within the same tray 20.

[18] The tray 20 is preferably manufactured from an elastically deformable polymer, such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and the tray 20 is manufactured by vacuum forming, thermo forming, or injection moulding. However, it will be appreciated that the tray 20 could be made with another suitable polymer forming process.

[19] Each tray 20 includes an outer flange 21, which extends around the outer, upper perimeter of the tray 20 and a plurality of receptacle dividing flanges 23, opposing ends of which extend between the outer flange 21 to define openings into each of the six receptacles 22. Each tray includes a covering film 30, which is schematically depicted in Fig. 2. The film 30 is a peelable film that hermetically seals the entire perimeter of the flange 21 as well as the receptacle dividing flanges 23 in between each receptacle 22, such that each receptacle is individually hermetically sealed. The peelable film 30 is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The film 30 is secured to the flange 21 using a heat sealing machine (not shown). The sealing machine is capable of cutting and sealing the film 30 onto each tray 20. The peelable film 30 is suitable for sub zero temperatures encountered during freezer storage and transportation.

[20] The manufacturing process will now be described. Raw materials are purchased from material suppliers and delivered to a manufacturing facility. The raw materials include at least frozen acai berry puree and may also include, for example, banana, guarana, thickening agent, sucrose and the like. The raw materials are inspected to ensure they meet quality control protocols, and accordingly, that the raw materials are suitable for use. Material quality must fall within acceptable predetermined limitations.

[21 ] The acai berry puree, either in its pure form or blended with one or more further ingredients, is emulsified into a free flowing liquid state and are subsequently stored in sealed tubs at minus 4 degrees Celsius.

[22] The new, empty Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) trays 20, which are initially stacked or nested within each other, are placed into a de-nesting machine (not shown) that ejects the trays onto a belt conveyor. The conveyor is designed to stop at a filling station, as described below.

[23] At the filling station 40, pureed acai berry puree 43, in either its pure form or preblended with one or more further ingredients, is deposited using a depositor and dosed into each of the six receptacles 22 of the tray 20. In a preferred embodiment, between 220 grams and 330 grams of pureed acai berry or acai berry blend 43 is added into each receptacle 22 at the filling station 40. Upon completion of the tray 20 filling process, the conveyor belt pushes the filled trays 20 into a mould specifically designed to hold the tray firmly in position at a first sealing station 50.

[24] The tray 20 (positioned in the mould) is then rotated from the first sealing station 50 to a second sealing station 52 where the peelable film 30 is applied using heat, which causes the film 30 to bond with the flanges 21 and 23. The sealing machine (not shown) ensures that an acceptable seal is located around the entire perimeter of the flange 21 of the tray 20 and in between each of the receptacles 22. The peelable film 30 is simultaneously cut using a serrated knife around the edge of the tray 20. The tray is then rotated to a landing station 54.

[25] At the landing station 54, the full, sealed tray 20 is ejected from the sealing machine with specially located lugs which push the tray 20. A secondary push is also provided by another arm which removes the tray 20 from the sealing machine.

[26] A conveyor belt 58 then takes the sealed trays 20 from the landing station 54 and conveys the trays 20 through a specially calibrated metal detector 60 which checks for ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel metals, which could have been introduced into one of the trays 20 by error. In the event that the presence of a metal is detected, the relevant tray 20 is then diverted away from the conveyor belt 58 to a bin 70.

[27] On the exit side of the metal detector 60, the trays that successfully passed metal detection are directed to an electric rotary table 90 which slowly turns and catches the trays.

[28] Each tray 20 is then marked with a batch number using an ink jet printer. A Julian code or another suitable code identifying the date of manufacture is printed on the sealing fdm 30 and an expiry date is also printed.

[29] The tray 20 is then picked up from the rotary table 90 by an operator and given a quick visual inspection to check the integrity of the seal and identify any visual defects around the tray and leaks.

[30] The trays 20 are then are placed into a shipping carton 100 and placed in a freezer at a temperature of below minus 18 degrees Celsius, to await distribution to commercial outlets or other end users 110.

[31] The operation of the beverage preparation apparatus 10 and method will now be described. A user initially obtains a tray 20 from a freezer. The tray is initially sealed with the peelable film 30. The user manually peels away and discards the film 30. The acai berry puree or acai berry puree blend in each receptacle 22 is pushed into a blender, pulse or other suitable device. The user then adds liquid to the blender in a measured amount, such as 50ml to 100ml for the preparation of an acai bowl, or 250ml for the preparation of a smoothie, along with all the acai berry puree or acai berry puree blend from the tray 20. The blending process then simply blends the acai berry puree or acai berry puree blend, and mixes the ingredients with the added liquid typically for between 30 and 60 seconds.

[32] Advantageously, because the ingredients are provided frozen, there is no need to add ice to the acai bowl or smoothie. This is beneficial, as ice is known to dilute and alter the taste of beverages as the ice melts. In addition, the time required to prepare new ice is significant if the cafe or bar runs out, and the beverage preparation apparatus 10 and method obviates the need to stock and replenish ice for smoothie purposes.

[33] Advantageously, the portion sizes are designed to make one acai bowl or one smoothie per tray 20, which results in effectively very little, if any, wastage of ingredients.

[34] Advantageously, the food and/or beverage preparation system 10 and method reduces time and labour involved in preparing the food or beverage.

[35] Advantageously, the food and/or beverage preparation system obviates the need for the user to use a knife to prepare the food or beverage.

[36] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A food and/or beverage preparation system comprising: a tray having a plurality of receptacles, an upper perimeter of the tray defining a flange; and a peelable fdm bonded to the flange, the fdm and tray being adapted to hermetically seal each of the receptacles, wherein the receptacles enclose a pre-portioned volume of acai berry puree.
2. 2. The food and/or beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the pre-portioned volume of acai berry puree comprises a pre-mixture of acai berry puree and at least one further ingredient.
3. 3. The food and/or beverage preparation system of claim 2, wherein the at least one further ingredient comprises one or more of banana, sucrose, guarana, water or a thickening agent, watermelon, mango, berries such as but not limited to one or more of, blueberries , blackberries , strawberries, raspberries; spinach, celery, avocado, apple, and pear.
4. 4. A method of preparing an acai berry food or beverage, the method including the steps of: obtaining a frozen tray having a plurality of receptacles, an upper perimeter of the tray defining a flange, wherein a peelable film is bonded to the flange, the film being adapted to hermetically seal the receptacles; removing the peelable film; unloading frozen acai berry puree or a pre-mixture of acai berry puree and at least one further ingredient from the receptacles into a blender; and blending the frozen contents.
5. 5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of, prior to blending the frozen ingredients, adding a liquid to the blender.