GB2569624A

GB2569624A - Beverage cartridge for a beverage preparation machine

Info

Publication number: GB2569624A
Application number: GB1721628.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Halliday Andrew; York Geoffrey; Phillip Jelley Simon; Thomas Ahearn Daniel; James Copley Simon; Elizabeth Knight Sarah
Original assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV
Priority date: 2017-12-21
Filing date: 2017-12-21
Publication date: 2019-06-26
Also published as: GB201721628D0

Abstract

A cartridge 1 for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a barcode reader comprises: an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 to communicate with an inlet and outlet of the delivery head of the beverage preparation machine; a port surface 4 comprising the inlet and/or outlet; and a barcode surface 6 comprising a barcode 5. The port surface and the barcode surface face in substantially the same direction and the port surface is separated from the barcode surface. The separation may comprise a ridge or trench 8 between the barcode surface and the port surface. The surfaces may be offset or co-planar. There may be a difference in material or surface property between the two surfaces: in particular, the barcode surface may comprise a hydrophobic material and the port surface may comprise a hydrophilic material.

Description

Beverage Cartridge for a Beverage Preparation Machine

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a capsule comprising a beverage material for use in a beverage machine in which fluid is injected into the capsule and a beverage is extracted under pressure.

Background of the Invention

It is known to provide machines and systems for the preparation of beverages such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Typically, in such systems the beverage ingredients are contained in a cartridge, which is pierced during preparation of the beverage. The beverage machine for use with such cartridges is specially adapted to receive a particular design of cartridge in a brew head and to pass water and/or steam through the cartridge to prepare a beverage which is then dispensed. Such beverage preparation machine may be used in commercial or domestic markets.

In the domestic market consumers may not wish to use separate beverage machines when preparing beverages from different beverage cartridges or, indeed from loose beverage ingredients. To provide this functionality, cartridges can be provided with identification means for communication with the beverage preparation machine, which allows consumers to use a variety of cartridges or loose ingredients in a single beverage preparation machine. These identification means include, amongst others, coloured segments for colour identification, RFID, barcodes and QR codes, etc. The beverage machine comprises an appropriate identification reader or detector to identify the type of capsule placed in the machine so that pre programmed brewing parameters, such as, brew times, water temperature and water volumes appropriate to the capsule and its ingredients can be applied.

These identification means have a variety of advantages and disadvantages, however, of specific relevance to the present invention, barcodes are susceptible to fouling, visual obstruction, and distortion caused by the presence of debris, particulates, fluids or solids disposed substantially between the barcode and the barcode reader. These impediments, in particular beverage residue, or water marks and limescale are often generated through use of the beverage preparation machine. For example, there may be a leak between the outlet of the cartridge and the outlet of the beverage preparation machine causing

7919411 beverage to be transferred to the barcode on the cartridge, or to the barcode reader on the beverage preparation machine. Additionally, moisture left on the piercer from a previous cartridge can be transferred to the barcode reader on insertion of the next cartridge. This issue is exacerbated due to the typically close conformal shapes of the cartridge and beverage preparation machine, which can unintentionally ‘wick’ or transfer by capillary action liquid across the two surfaces.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved beverage cartridge having an identification means which avoids, or at least mitigates some, or all of the aforementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a delivery head, an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the cartridge received in the delivery head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage and a barcode reader having a barcode reader window through which signals may be transmitted, wherein the cartridge comprises an inlet and an outlet to communicate with an inlet and outlet of the delivery head of the beverage preparation machine, a port surface comprising or supporting the inlet and/or outlet, a barcode surface comprising a barcode arranged to be read in use by the barcode reader, and wherein the port surface and the barcode surface face in substantially the same direction, characterised in that the port surface is separated from the barcode surface

It will be understood that the by the term “cartridge” as used herein is meant any package, container, sachet, or receptacle which contains one more beverage ingredients in the manner described. The cartridge may be rigid, semi rigid, or flexible.

By separating the barcode surface from the port surface, a continuous surface is not provided to ‘wick’ or transfer by capillary action liquid that is present on the cartridge surface between the port surface and the barcode surface. This significantly reduces the transfer of impediments to the barcode and to the barcode reader, improving reader reliability.

The separation between the two surfaces can be achieved by offsetting the barcode surface from the port surface in a direction substantially normal to at least one of the

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-3surfaces, or by providing a ridge or trench between the barcode surface and the port surface, or by forming the barcode and port surfaces from different materials, or material with different surface finishes.

Each of these methods of separation has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Most notably, offsetting the port surface and barcode surface in a direction normal to the surfaces has the advantage that in an application where the cartridge is held in use against a substantially flat barcode reader, either the port surface or barcode surface can be disposed such that it does not contact the barcode reader. The offset can be such that the barcode surface is recessed relative to the port surface, or such that the barcode surface is proud relative to the port surface. Dependent upon the beverage preparation machine arrangement, each of these can be advantageous. In the case where an at least partial seal can be formed around or against the barcode reader to seal between the barcode reader and the barcode, having the barcode surface proud of the adjacent surface is advantageous as it ensures that force transferred through the cartridge is transferred through the barcode surface to the barcode reader, aiding with sealing. In addition, ‘wicking’ or transfer by capillary action is reduced as the adjacent surface is raised away from the surface of the beverage preparation device, thus not providing the close proximity of surfaces required for effective liquid transfer.

In the case where the cartridge is disposed in use with the barcode facing downwards, having the barcode surface recessed relative to the adjacent surface is advantageous as the effect of gravity will act to resist liquid transferring to the barcode. In addition, ‘wicking’ or transfer by capillary action is reduced as the barcode surface is raised away from the surface of the barcode reader, thus not providing the close proximity of surfaces required for effective liquid transfer.

The disadvantage of this method is that the internal volume of the cartridge is reduced by an amount approximately equal to the area of the recessed surface multiplied by the depth of recession, which reduces the amount of beverage ingredients and consequently may reduce the quality of the beverage produced. The separation may advantageously be achieved by forming a ridge or trough between the two surfaces, providing protection against fouling by transfer from one surface to the other while having a negligible impact on the internal volume of the cartridge.

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-4Alternatively, the separation may be a difference in material or surface properties of the two surfaces. This, advantageously, requires no change in structure or addition of structural features, while still providing protection against fouling by transfer from one surface to the other. To achieve this control of fluid transfer, the surfaces may be formed from, for example, one surface comprising a hydrophobic material and one surface comprising a hydrophilic material, or one surface comprising an absorbent material, and one surface comprising an impermeable material.

It is typical for the barcode surface and the port surface to be a single frangible film or foil material covering a side of the cartridge. This has the disadvantages listed previously as regards cleanliness of the barcode and barcode reader, but also has the disadvantage that the material used to print the barcode onto is not specifically selected for this application. This typically means that the barcode surface is not as smooth, flat, stiff or as hydrophobic as would be desirable. By disposing the barcode on a barcode surface distinct from the adjacent port surface, a different material can be used for the barcode surface, with this material selected to have appropriate properties for printing and reading of a barcode, while reducing the probability of obstruction.

Preferably, the barcode surface is made substantially from a smooth, flat plastics or hydrophobic material. This assists in keeping the barcode surface free of fluid and possible impediments.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage preparation system comprising the cartridge as described and a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a delivery head, an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the cartridge received in the delivery head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage and a barcode reader having a barcode reader window through which signals may be transmitted.

Detailed description of the Invention

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a beverage cartridge in accordance with the invention, and

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-5Figure 2 is a magnified view of the junction of the barcode surface and the port surface of figure 1 in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 3 is perspective view of a further embodiment of a beverage cartridge in accordance with the invention.

In figure 1, a beverage cartridge 1 is shown for use with a beverage preparation machine having a barcode reader. The cartridge is generally circular in shape and has a circular base wall 1a from which a circular side wall 1b projects. The cartridge 1 is provided with an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 disposed on a port surface 4. A barcode 5 is disposed on a barcode surface 6. Both the surfaces 4,6 are disposed on an extraction side 20 of the cartridge 1.

The cartridge 1 comprises a beverage ingredient. The inlet 2 and outlet 3 are arranged to interface in use with the inlet and outlet of a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a delivery head, an upwardly directed inlet for supplying fluid to the cartridge received in the delivery head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage, and a barcode reader having a barcode reader window through which signals may be transmitted. Such a beverage machine is described in EP2148598.

The barcode 5 on the cartridge 1 is arranged to be read in use by the barcode reader. The barcode 5 comprises information relating to the brewing/dispensing parameters of the beverage capsule so that when inserted into the machine and read by the barcode reader, parameters such as the fluid temperature, fluid volume and flow rate are applied to extract the desired beverage.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the inlet 2 and outlet 3 are arranged in substantially the same plane on port surface 4. Port surface 4 covers a major segment of a circular opening which is defined by side wall 1b and through which the beverage ingredients are filled into the cartridge during manufacture. The barcode 5 is located on a barcode surface 6 separated from the port surface 4 by a trench 8 which can best be seen in figure 2. Barcode surface 6 covers a minor segment of the cartridge opening.

Port surface 4 and barcode surface 6 are connected to a trench 8 which is formed at the top of a wall 9. Wall 9 divides the opening of the cartridge into a major segment and a minor segment. Barcode surface 6 is formed of the same material as the port surface 4 which may be a metallic foil material. This has the advantage that the two surfaces 4,6 can

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-6be applied in manufacture as a single film and then cut to reveal the trench 8. An adhesion surface 14 is provided directly under the edge of the surfaces 4, 6 either side of the trench 8 for attachment thereto. The adhesion surface approximately traces the periphery of the trench 8 and allows the cartridge 1 to be sealed to be substantially liquid and air impermeable prior to piercing of the inlet 2 and outlet 3 when placed in a beverage machine.

In an alternative arrangement of the invention different materials or material surfaces can be used for each of the surfaces 4, 6. For the barcode surface 6, a material comprising a hydrophobic material could be used. For the port surface 4, a material comprising a hydrophilic material could be used. A difference in materials may assist with controlling the movement of leaked fluid and draw it away from the barcode. Equally having a similar effect, one of the surfaces 4, 6 could comprise an absorbent material, and the other surface 4, 6 could comprise an impermeable material.

In a further arrangement of the invention, the separation between the two surfaces 4,6 is achieved by offsetting the barcode surface 6 from the port surface 4 in a direction substantially normal to the surfaces 4,6. This could be achieved by the height of the wall 9 being taller on one side to which one of the two surfaces 4, 6 is attached.

In use, the cartridge 1 is clamped within the beverage preparation device, with the inlet 2 and outlet 3 of the cartridge forming an often imperfect seal against an inlet and outlet of the beverage preparation machine, while the barcode 5 is held in close proximity to a barcode reader. As fluid flows into the cartridge 1, and a beverage flows out of the cartridge, it is common for a small amount of fluid to leak from the inlet or outlet, allowing fluid onto the port surface 4 which can then move or wick across this surface. However, the trench 8 between the port surface 4 and the barcode surface 6 stops this fluid moving onto the barcode surface 6, ensuring that the barcode 5 remains dry and free from debris and can be read by the barcode reader.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which the same reference numerals are used for the same features previously described. In this embodiment, instead of the port surface 4 covering a portion of the cartridge opening and the barcode surface 6 covering a portion of the cartridge opening, the barcode surface 6 covers all of the opening of the cartridge 1. Port surface 4 has a smaller surface area than the barcode

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-7 surface 6 and lies adjacent the barcode surface 6. There is an offset between the surfaces 4,6 in a direction substantially normal to both of the surfaces 4,6.

Port surface 4 is shown here to be of an obround form and is raised relative to the barcode surface 6. It comprises two holes 2a, 3a which align with inlet 2 and outlet 3. The port surface may take on other shapes and may comprise just one of the outlet 3 or the inlet 2. The port surface 4 has a thickness so that in use in a beverage machine the barcode surface 6 and hence the barcode 5 is spaced away from the internal surface of the beverage preparation machine. This spacing stops fluid wicking between the barcode 5 and the barcode reader as previously explained. The inlet 2 and outlet 3 at port surface 4 may be provided with a second lidding layer.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a delivery head, an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the cartridge received in the delivery head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage and a barcode reader having a barcode reader window through which signals may be transmitted, wherein the cartridge comprises an inlet and an outlet to communicate with an inlet and outlet of the delivery head of the beverage preparation machine, a port surface comprising or supporting the inlet and/or outlet, a barcode surface comprising a barcode arranged to be read in use by the barcode reader, wherein the port surface and the barcode surface face in substantially the same direction, characterised in that the port surface is separated from the barcode surface.

2. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the separation comprises a ridge or trench between the barcode surface and the port surface

3. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the separation between the port surface and the barcode surface comprises an offset between the surfaces in a direction substantially normal to at least one of the surfaces.

4. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the barcode surface and the port surface are substantially co-planar.

5. The cartridge of any preceding claim wherein the separation comprises a difference in material or surface property of the barcode surface and port surface.

6. The cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the barcode surface comprises a hydrophobic material.

7. The cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the port surface comprises a hydrophilic material.

8. A beverage preparation system comprising the cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim and a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a delivery head, an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the cartridge received in the delivery head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage and a barcode reader having a barcode reader window through which signals may be transmitted.