LT2005078A - Cartridge for the preparation of beverages and method of manufacturing a cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet (121) for introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, a compartment (134) containing the one or more liquid beverage ingredients and an outlet (122) for a beverage produced by dilution of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients by the aqueous medium, characterised in that the compartment includes means for controlling dilution of at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients on introduction of the aqueous medium into compartment.

Description

1

This invention relates to a cassette for the manufacture of beverages and, in particular, to sealed cassettes formed of substantially air- and water-impermeable materials and containing 5 single or more ingredients for the preparation of beverages.

Previously, it has been suggested to seal beverage preparation ingredients in individual air-tight packs. For example, it is known to use cartridges or capsules containing compressed ground coffee in certain coffee preparation machines commonly referred to as "express" machines. When making coffee and using these preparation machines 10, the coffee cartridges are placed in the cooking chamber, and hot water is passed through the cartridge at a relatively high pressure, thus extracting the aromatic coffee ingredients from the ground coffee to produce a coffee beverage. Typically, such apparatus operates at pressures greater than 6 χ 105 Pa. The types of preparation apparatus described are still relatively expensive, as the elements of the apparatus, such as water pumps and seals 15, have to withstand high pressure. WO 01/58786 discloses a cartridge for the preparation of beverages, which generally operates in a pressure range of 0.7 χ 105 to 2.0 χ 105 Pa. In addition, the cartridge is intended for use in a beverage preparation machine for the commercial and industrial market and is relatively expensive. Thus, there remains a requirement for a beverage preparation cassette to make the cassette and beverage preparation machine particularly suitable for the 20 local markets in terms of prices, performance and reliability.

It has also been shown that it is difficult to sterilize the beverage cassettes of the types described above because of the narrow and winding tracks formed in the cartridge body. Sterilization, for example by steam cassettes, may not be fully effective for winding tracks due to the tensile properties of the cassette surface, which prevent steam from entering the winding tracks and thereby hinder all the surface of the element from vapor. Beverage cartridges may be susceptible to spattering and spotting problems when the beverage is discharged from the cartridge during splashing or splashing outside the vessel. This is especially true in the case of beverage bottling at relatively high pressure. Attempts are made to reduce this problem by placing a tipping probe on a beverage preparation machine that directs the beverage to the vessel. In addition, the tipping probe tends to be contaminated over time with beverage residues and is difficult to clean. There is still a risk of mixing different types of drinks.

In addition, the cartridge according to WO01 / 58786 forms a beverage jet through the passage of the beverage through the opening. It has been proven difficult to pinpoint the size and position of this type of openings. Precise determination of the size and position of the aperture is very important as it is crucial for the correct delivery of the air bubbles in the prepared beverage. The formation of small openings is particularly difficult in the spray-formed elements, where the opening is internal and surrounded by other parts of the element. Conventional hole-forming techniques use a casting finger, the size of which is determined by the diameter of the required hole. In addition, the openings 5 formed by the forming finger can normally be directed only to the open element (whose openness allows the mold to reach the element during molding). In the beverage cartridge, this ends with the beverage being discharged very quickly, at a rate of up to 12-16 m / s, as the opening is directed straight into the exit.

One of the reliability factors of cassettes is their ability to withstand internal pressure. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a beverage cartridge with improved ability to withstand internal pressure. 10 In order to reduce the cost of such cartridges, it is desirable that they be manufactured in a simple, reliable manner. It is particularly desirable to reduce the manual handling of cartridge elements during manufacturing and to reduce the total number of elements.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and is formed from a base air and water impermeable material, a cartridge having an inlet 15 for inserting a water medium into the cartridge, and an outlet for dispensing a beverage prepared from one or more ingredients when the cartridge has a cartridge. the outer member and the inner member are assembled with the outer member connected by an inner element having a discharge neck defining the outlet of the cartridge.

The cartridge according to the present invention is easily assembled from the main element 20 comprising the inner element and the outer member. Using individual elements for the internal and external elements that are interconnected, the production of each element can be optimized. Particularly advantageous is that the cartridge according to the present invention has very small tolerances, since the beverage flow path through the cartridge determines the junction between the outer member and the inner member. In addition, the parts of the inner member and the outer member 25 may be more easily sterilized prior to assembly when separated.

As soon as the elements are joined, a certain number of small holes in the winding track that cannot be effectively sterilized using known techniques are formed. The ability to sterilize cells is a particularly useful feature where cartridges are used for bottling milk-based beverages. In addition, the use of separate elements, which are joined together, does not require the cartridge to be inverted during assembly, since the connection of the inner member and optionally the filter, the filling of the beverage ingredients and the attachment of the lid, such as laminated materials, may be carried out with the outer member in one orientation. . 3 3 (f

Useful when the inner element has a tipping neck. The tipping neck serves to direct the bottled beverage into a container such as a cup. The tipping neck helps to avoid excessive spraying or splashing of the beverage and is also useful in regulating the flow characteristics of the beverage when the beverage is poured from the cartridge into the container. For example, a spout can be formed to reduce the degree of turbulence given to the drink, to avoid unnecessary reduction of the amount of bubbles in the beverage. It is also useful when the cartridge itself has a tipping neck rather than a separate tipping neck or the tongue is provided in a beverage preparation machine. Thus, there is no danger of mixing the type of beverage between the bottling cycles, since each spout 10 is only used once and discarded with the remnants of the cartridge. It is also preferable for the beverage to be poured out of the discharge neck without contact with the external mechanism of the beverage preparation apparatus, thereby avoiding the beverage preparation apparatus contaminating the beverage residue. Preferably, the spout is integral with the inner member. The most advantageous is that the discharge neck and the inner member are discharged or otherwise formed as an integral unit 15 which reduces the cost of manufacturing the cartridge and reduces the number of elements to be collected.

In one embodiment, the spout has a conical portion. In another embodiment, the spout has a cylindrical portion. In a further preferred embodiment, the spout has a partition extending at least a portion of the length along the length of the spout 20. The partition reduces the splash of the drink and the spraying by pouring.

It is preferred that the external element and the inner member are interconnected by a click-through. Click-through consists of a concurrent structure on the inner element and the outer element. Clicking allows you to quickly assemble and securely connect the inner element and the shank element. The most advantageous is that the click-through 25 allows the use of adhesives or other adhesive materials inside the cartridge which will be exposed to the beverage ingredients.

Preferably, the outer member of the outer member has a closed first end and an open second end when the outlet opening of the connected inner and outer elements of the discharge nozzle is directed towards the open second end. It is also preferred that the inlet opening is directed towards the open end of the outer member 30. In this way, the inlet and outlet are directed to the same side of the cartridge. This allows the cartridge to be used in a low-profile machine, the pricking means for forming the inlet and outlet openings during use protrudes from one plane of the beverage preparation apparatus. 4

Preferably, the outer member and the inner member are interconnected at or near the closed end of the outer member. In this way, the interconnection between the inner member and the outer member is achieved at a point remote from the open end or opening of the outer member. It is most advantageous that the interconnection step can be carried out 5 before pouring the beverage ingredients into the cartridge and before sealing the open end or opening of the cartridge. This simplifies the assembly process since the inner and outer elements may initially be interconnected to form a cassette assembly that can be transferred to the filling point on the packaging line where one or more beverage ingredients are added. The filled cartridge is then sealed, for example, with a sheet of laminated material 10 which is thermally welded to the open end of the outer member. This assembly process avoids the difficult task of leveling and retaining the aligned outer element and the laminated material during the thermal welding step.

Preferably, the outer member has an inwardly directed projection placed at the proximal end of the discharge neck on the joint between the outer member and the inner member.

In one embodiment, the inner member has a frame on which the filter is arranged. When the inner member and the outer member are interconnected, one or more channels are formed between the frame and the outer end of the outer member. In addition, one or more channels are defined by edges extending upwardly from the frame towards the outer member 20 closing the first end. Preferably, one or more channels are inclined towards the spout neck.

In another embodiment, the inner member additionally has a hollow neck around the enclosure. Preferably, the enclosure has an upper extension which, when assembling the cartridge, contacts the closed first end of the cartridge. Preferably, the upper extension of the upper extension 25 engages the exterior structure of the outer member to form a click-on engagement to connect the inner member with the outer member. Usually, the structure of the external element acting together is an inwardly directed projection.

Preferably, the cartridge is disc-shaped. Optionally, the cartridge further comprises means for a jet of beverage, said means comprising an opening in the beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet 30. Preferably, the inlet and / or outlet opening is substantially covered with air and waterproof material prior to the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening in the cartridge during use. For example, the inlet and / or outlet opening is substantially covered with air and waterproof laminate. The laminate is polypropylene. The outer member and / or the inner member are formed, for example, from polypropylene. Alternatively, the outer member and / or the inner member may be formed from a microorganism degradable polymer.

Preferably, the inner member forms a load carrying member.

It is also preferable to have a plurality of cartridges and each cartridge as described above 5, and moreover, the yield of the beverage produced from one or more beverage ingredients contained in the cassettes corresponds to no more than 1.0 from the standard deviations. The present invention provides a cassette containing one or more beverage ingredients and formed of substantially air and water-impermeable materials, this cartridge having an inlet for introducing a water medium into the cassette, and exit from one or more beverage 10 ingredients for the ready-to-drink beverage, has an inner member of the inner element inserted into the outer member and means for generating a beverage jet, wherein said means for generating a beverage jet has an opening in the beverage flow path connecting the inlet with the outlet, characterized in that the opening is bounded by a junction between the inner element and the outer member. The cartridge according to the present invention provides a beverage jet that changes the appearance and characteristics of the beverage being dispensed, for example, by incorporating air into the beverage jet to form a plurality of small air bubbles in the beverage being dispensed. The cartridge according to the present invention is easily assembled from the main elements, the inner member and the outer member. Using individual elements for internal and external elements, they can be interconnected 20 by assembling, each element manufacturing and cartridge assembly can be optimized. This is particularly useful in the cassette according to the invention where very small deviations in size and arrangement are required for the opening which creates the beverage jet and also for the remainder of the beverage flow path through the cartridge. In addition, the opening may be directed perpendicular to the general direction of the flow path so that the beverage acts on the wall or surface of the cartridge and therefore slows down before the outflow. As described above, such aperture precision and directivity are difficult to achieve in spray-shaped elements. According to the present invention, this difficulty is circumvented by defining the opening boundaries when a joint between the inner member and the outer member is used, rather than forming the entire opening in one element, such as a forming finger.

Preferably, the one - or the inner element or the outer member - has a projection 30 when, when inserting the inner member into the outer member, the protrusion partially obstructs the gap, thereby limiting the opening.

It is easier to create a separate gap and a protrusion that can be adjusted to limit the opening. Preferably, the gap is formed by a long groove which may be in the inner member. In this case, the outer element has a projection. Preferably, the protrusion consists of an outer element 6 6 /

elongation, at least part of which extends into the inner element. The long groove may be formed in the cylindrical wall of the inner member. Preferably, the long groove extends to the upper edge of the cylindrical wall. In one embodiment, the protrusion of the outer member comprises a cylindrical extension which is provided by a sliding injection in the cylindrical wall of the inner member 5. Usually, the cross-sectional area of the orifice is 0.4 to 0.7 mm2.

Preferably, the cartridge further comprises at least one air inlet and means for reducing the pressure of the beverage jet when in use, air from at least one air inlet is introduced into the beverage in the form of a plurality of fine bubbles. Preferably, at least one air inlet is disposed in the inner member behind the opening. The inner element has a spout that defines an outlet. Preferably, the beverage jet, which is discharged through the opening, is directed to the discharge neck, where it can strike the spout neck between the outlet and the outlet. Preferably, this surface is a concave wall of the spout. Preferably, the concave wall 15 is disposed on the opposite side of the discharge neck from the opening. Preferably, the orifice directs the beverage to swim at an angle substantially perpendicular to the flow of beverage flowing through the outlet. In this way, the beverage changes direction before leaving the cartridge, slowing the flow of the beverage and protecting it from splashing.

Parts of the inner member and the outer member may be more easily sterilized prior to assembly when they are separate. When the elements are interconnected, a number of small openings, winding tracks that cannot be effectively sterilized by known methods, are formed. The ability to sterilize cells is a particularly useful feature where cartridges are used for bottling milk-based beverages.

Useful when the spout is integral with the inner element. The tipping neck 25 directs the spilled beverage into a container such as a cup. The tipping neck helps to avoid excessive spraying or splashing of the beverage and is also useful in regulating the flow characteristics of the beverage when poured from the cartridge into the container. For example, the spout can be formed to reduce the degree of turbulence given to the beverage, to avoid unnecessary reduction of the amount of bubbles in the beverage. It is also useful when the cartridge itself has a tipping neck than a separate tipping neck is provided in a beverage preparation machine. Thus, there is no danger of mixing the type of beverage between the bottling cycles because each spout is used only once and discarded with the remnants of the cartridge. It is also preferable for the beverage to be poured out of the spout without contacting the external mechanism of the beverage preparation machine, thereby avoiding the drinks 7 <? preparation residue contamination of the beverage. It is most useful when the spout and the inner member are spilled or otherwise formed as a single unit that reduces the cost of manufacturing the cartridge and reduces the number of items to be collected.

Preferably, the cartridge is disc-shaped. The outer member and / or the inner member 5 are formed, for example, from polypropylene. The cartridge may be made of a microorganism degradable polymer. The present invention also provides a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and formed from substantially air and water-impermeable materials, a cartridge having one or more beverage ingredients containing a chamber, the chamber has a plurality of inlets 10 for introducing a water medium into the chamber and a plurality of outlet openings. one or more beverage ingredients for a ready-to-drink beverage, wherein at least a portion of the inlet openings is not aligned with the outlet openings, so that at least a portion of the water medium entering the chamber through the inlet openings is forced to circulate inside the chamber prior to leaving the chamber through the outlets; that the inlets are located around the periphery of the chamber. More advantageously, the cartridge according to the present invention has inlet openings and outlet openings, at least part of which is not arranged in a single row. This ensures that the water medium contained in the beverage ingredients containing the chamber cannot directly pass from the inlet to the outlet. The water medium is forced to circulate in the chamber before leaving the outlets. This increases the degree of mixing of the water medium with the ingredients of the beverage 20, since the parts of the beverage ingredients in the chamber are exposed to the flow of the water medium.

Preferably, the inlet openings can be spaced evenly around the perimeter of the chamber. Preferably, the outlets are disposed toward the center of the chamber relative to the inlet openings. Output openings can be spaced evenly around the center of the camera. The arrangement of the inlet and outlet openings 25 at equal intervals gives a smoother flow characteristics inside the chamber, which allows a more even mixing of the beverage ingredients and the water medium.

Preferably, the cartridge has 3 to 10 inlets. In one embodiment, 4 inlets are provided.

Preferably, the cartridge has 3 to 10 outlets. In one embodiment 30, there are 5 outlets.

It is preferable to have an uneven number of inlets and outlets.

Preferably, the number of inlets and outlets is determined by the formula:

X0 = Xj + C where 8

Xi = number of inlets Xo = number of outlets C = integer set, except 0 or nXj n = any integer.

Useful when the number of inlets and outlets is selected according to the formula above. This is particularly useful when the cartridge is in the form of a disc and the openings are spaced evenly around the disc, since it is not necessary to deliberately align the cartridge elements having the inlet openings and the outlet openings. During the mutual orientation of the elements, at least part of the inlets and outlets will not be aligned. For example, in the case of four inlets and five outlets and at all spaced spaced intervals, it is not possible to align more than one inlet with the outlet, whatever the alignment of the elements with the input and output ports. This results in a much faster and simpler assembly procedure. Alternatively, the cartridge may have an even number of inlet openings and outlet openings, but their spacings may be selected to ensure that at least some of the inlet and outlet openings are not aligned.

Usually, the inlets are located in the outer element of the cartridge and the outlets are in the inside of the cartridge. Preferably, the inner member has a discharge neck communicating with the outlets.

In a more preferred embodiment, the cartridge is disc-shaped. Preferably, the flow of water medium through the inlet openings into the chamber is radially directed toward the center of the cartridge.

The cartridge is suitable for specific applications with thick liquid or gel formulated beverage ingredients. For single use, the liquid chocolate ingredient is contained in the cartridge at a viscosity of 1700 to 3900 mPa at ambient temperature, and 5000 to 10,000 mPa at 0 ° C, and a solid refractive Brix of 67 ± 3 for other uses. placed in a cartridge at a viscosity of 70 to 2000 mPa at ambient temperature, and 80 to 5000 mPa at 0 ° C when coffee has a total particulate level of 40 to 70%.

Using soluble beverage ingredients, such as a viscous liquid or gel, may cause the problem of insufficient mixing of the ingredients with the water medium. In particular, cartridges containing such products may rapidly create channels connecting the cartridge inlet with the outlet opening to dissolve the local ingredient. The channels form a relatively low resistance flow path to the rest of the water medium, which will tend to flow along the channels than through the remaining, undissolved, viscous ingredient in the chamber. The cartridge 9 according to the present invention largely solves this problem by forcing the water medium to circulate in the chamber, not only dissolves the bulk of the ingredients, but also creates turbulence inside the chamber, which improves the mixing of the remaining ingredient, which in turn prevents low flow paths connecting the inlet. openings with outlet openings, 5 formation and retention. The outer member and / or the inner member may be formed from polypropylene and molded by injection. In one embodiment, the outer member and / or the inner member is formed from a microorganism-degradable polymer. The present invention provides a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and formed from a base air and water impermeable material, the cartridge having an outer member defining a storage chamber holding one or more beverage ingredients, and an inner element containing a spout forming an outlet outlet. one or more beverage ingredients to leak out the prepared beverage, characterized in that the inner member forms a load carrying member to the element. The cartridge according to the present invention provides a robust apparatus for dispensing beverages. In particular, the inner member forms a load bearing element that allows the cartridge to withstand a relatively high compressive load during use. This allows the cartridge to be used in a beverage preparation machine in which the cartridge is subjected to a compressive load before the bottling cycle begins. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood that the cartridge will stop working when it is pressed 20 from the inside. In addition, the application of a compressive load to the cartridge guarantees that the cartridge elements are held firmly and accurately in place.

Preferably, the inner member and the outer member are separate elements that are interconnected during cartridge assembly.

Preferably, the cartridge additionally has a filter connected to the inner member. Preferably, the inner member comprises a load carrying member of sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive force greater than 130 N. Even more preferably, the load carrying member is of sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive force greater than 200 N. when the load carrying element is of sufficient strength to allow the load carrying member to withstand a compressive force of more than 130 N.

In one embodiment, the inner member is formed of polypropylene. Alternatively, the outer member and / or the inner member are formed from a microorganism degradable polymer. 10

Useful when the inner element has a tipping neck. The tipping neck serves to direct the dispensed beverage into a container, such as a cup. The tipping neck helps to avoid excessive spraying or splashing of the beverage and is also useful in regulating the flow characteristics of the beverage when poured from the cartridge into the container. For example, the spout 5 may be formed to reduce the degree of turbulence given to the beverage, to avoid unnecessary reduction of the amount of bubbles present in the beverage.

Preferably, the inner member and the discharge neck are formed as a unit. The present invention also provides a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and formed from a base air and water impermeable material, the cartridge comprises a housing 10 having a first closed end and a second open end, the housing defining a storage chamber holding one or more beverage ingredients in the housing. the second open end is covered with a cap, characterized in that the cartridge further comprises a load carrying member extending between the enclosed first end and the lid.

Preferably, the load carrying element has a discharge neck forming an outlet 15 of one or more beverage ingredients to drain the prepared beverage.

Preferably, the load carrying element is disposed at or near the center of the cartridge.

Preferably, the load carrier is of sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive load greater than 130 N. More preferably, the load carrying member has sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive load of more than 200 N. It is preferred that the load The carrier element is of sufficient strength to allow the load carrying member to withstand a compressive force greater than 130 N. The present invention also provides a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and formed of a base air and waterproof material, the cartridge 25 being comprised of an outer member, a holding chamber containing one or more beverage ingredients and an inner member having a discharge neck forming an outlet from one or more beverage ingredients to leak out the prepared beverage and a filter disposed between the storage chamber and the discharge neck; i that the inner member and the filter are connected to the outer member in at least one step in at least 30 welding steps.

More advantageously, the cartridge according to the present invention can be assembled in a reliable manner with minimal manual assembly of the elements. In addition, the outer element, the inner member and the filter can be assembled first and foremost as a semi-finished product.

is transported without danger of moving the filter. This allows the outer element, the inner member and the filter to be assembled at other locations than the cartridge filling and sealing.

Preferably, the outer member has an opening for entry into the storage chamber, and the inner member and filter are connected to the outer member at the base remote from the opening. Preferably, the inner member, the outer member and the filter are in the form of a ring.

Preferably, the weld is substantially circular.

In one embodiment, the inner member, the outer member is of plastic, and at least one weld is an ultrasonic seam.

In one example, the inner member is composed of a frame and at least one weld 10 is formed around the perimeter of the frame. This weld seam prevents the beverage from escaping from the storage chamber differently than through the filter. Preferably, the frame comprises a plurality of ribs extending upwardly from the frame towards the outer end closed by the first end to determine one or more channels between the frame and the outer end of the closed first end, and the weld seams formed between the edges and the outer member enclosing the first end 15. The present invention also provides a method for producing a cartridge when the cartridge contains one or more beverage ingredients and is formed from a base air and water impermeable material, the cartridge comprises an outer member defining the storage chamber in which one or more beverage ingredients are stored, and an inner member having a discharge 20 the neck forming the outlet from one or more beverage ingredients to leak the prepared beverage and the filter is characterized in that the method comprises connecting the inner member and the filter in a single step to the outer member at least one welding step.

Preferably, the welding step is ultrasonic welding. Preferably, the method further comprises forming a first welding line around the periphery of the inner member and the filter.

Preferably, the method further comprises forming a second welding line around the periphery of the inner element and the filter at or near the discharge neck.

It is to be understood that the term "cassette" as used herein refers to any packaging, 30 container, sachet or container which accommodates one or more beverage ingredients in the manner described. The cartridge may be solid, semi-solid or flexible.

The cartridge according to the present invention contains one or more beverage ingredients suitable for preparing a beverage product. The beverage product may include, for example, coffee, tea, chocolate or a milk-based beverage, including milk. Drink ingredients can be powdered " 12, milled, leaf-shaped or liquid. Drinking ingredients can be insoluble and soluble. Examples include roasted and ground coffee, leaf tea, powdered chocolate and broth, milk-based drinks, and concentrated fruit juice. The present invention also provides a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients 5 and formed of substantially air and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge having an inlet for introducing a water medium into the cartridge, and an outlet for dispensing one or more beverage ingredients to a ready-to-drink beverage is characteristic the fact that the cartridge has an outer member and the inner member connects to the outer member during assembly, the inner member determines the outlet of the cartridge, and when the cartridge is assembled, the injection between the outer member and the inner member 10 is applied by a click.

The present invention is easily assembled from the main elements, the inner element and the outer member. By using individual elements for internal and external elements, they can be interconnected by collecting by injection, manufacturing of each element and assembly of the cartridge can be optimized. This is particularly useful in cartridge 15 according to the present invention where very small deviations are required as the beverage flow path through the cartridge defines a junction between the outer member and the inner member. In addition, parts of the inner member and the outer member may be easier to sterilize prior to assembly when they are separate. When the elements are injected with a click, a certain number of small coal is formed, winding tracks that cannot be effectively sterilized by known methods. The ability to sterilize cells is a particularly useful feature where cartridges are used for bottling milk-based beverages. Clicking allows you to quickly assemble and securely connect the inner element and the shank element. The most useful is when the injection is used to prevent the use of adhesives or other adhesive materials inside the cartridge that will be exposed to the beverage ingredients. Generally, a click-through is formed by interacting portions on the inner member and the outer member. Preferably, the outer member has a closed first end and an open second end is injected by an internal opening of the inner and outer elements of the element to the open end of the outer member. This is better when the inlet is directed towards the open end of the outer member. In this way, the inlet and outlet ports 30 are directed to the same side of the cartridge. This allows the cartridge to be used in a low profile apparatus in which the piercing means for forming the inlet and outlet openings during use protrude from the plane of the same beverage preparation apparatus.

Preferably, the outer member and the inner member are pressed together at or near the closed first end of the outer member. In this way, the interconnection of the inner and outer elements 13 is achieved at a location remote from the open end or opening of the outer member. It is most advantageous when the injection step can be performed before pouring the beverage ingredients into the cartridge and before sealing the open end or opening of the cartridge. This simplifies the assembly process since the inner and outer elements from the beginning of the 5 can be pushed together to form a cartridge semi-finished product that can be transferred to the filling point on the packaging line where one or more ingredients are filled. The filled cartridge is sealed, for example, with a sheet of laminated material which is thermally welded to the open end of the outer member. This assembly process avoids the difficult task of leveling and retaining the aligned outer element 10 and the laminated material during the thermal welding step.

It is more advantageous when the injection between the inner member and the outer member forms a watertight insulation.

In one embodiment, the inner member additionally has a cover surrounding the outlet opening having an upper extension having an upper extension which, when assembling the cartridge 15, engages an interacting portion of the outer member to form a snap-in injection to connect the inner member with the outer member. Typically, the interacting portion of the outer member is an inwardly directed projection.

Preferably, the outer member has an inwardly directed projection which is disposed at the proximal end of the discharge neck on the joint between the outer member and the inner member.

More useful when the inner element has a tipping neck. The tipping neck serves to direct the beverage to be dispensed into a container, such as a cup. The tipping neck helps to avoid excessive spraying or splashing of the beverage and is also useful in regulating the flow characteristics of the beverage when poured from the cartridge into the container. For example, a spout 25 may be formed to reduce the degree of turbulence provided to the beverage, avoiding unnecessary reduction of the amount of bubbles present in the beverage. It is also useful when the cartridge itself has a tipping neck than a separate ejection neck in a beverage preparation machine. Thus, there is no danger of mixing the type of beverage between the bottling cycles, since each spout is used only once and discarded with the remnants of the cartridge. It is also preferable for the beverage to be poured out of the discharge neck without contact with the external mechanism of the beverage preparation apparatus, thereby avoiding the beverage preparation apparatus contaminating the beverage residue. Preferably, the spout is integral with the inner member. The most advantageous is that the discharge neck and the inner member are ejected or 14 otherwise shaped as a single unit that reduces the cost of manufacturing the cartridge and reduces the number of elements to be assembled.

In one embodiment, the spout has a tapered portion. In another embodiment, the spout has a cylindrical portion. In a further preferred embodiment 5, the discharge neck has a partition extending at least partially along the length of the discharge neck. This partition reduces the spraying of the beverage and splashes when spilled.

Preferably, the cartridge is disc-shaped. Optionally, the cartridge further comprises means for generating a beverage jet, these means comprising an opening in the beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The outer member and / or the inner member 10 are formed, for example, from polypropylene.

In the following description, the terms "upper" and "lower" and equivalents will be used to describe the relative arrangement of the features of the invention. The terms "upper" and "lower" and equivalents must be understood as referring to a cartridge (or other elements) normally oriented for insertion into a beverage preparation apparatus and subsequent dispensing as shown in FIG. 4. "Upper" and "Bottom" refer respectively to the relative position closer to or further from the top surface of the cartridge. In addition, the terms "upper" and "lower" and equivalents will be used to describe the relative positioning of the features of the invention. The terms "upper" and "lower" and equivalents must be understood as referring to relative positions in the cassette (or other elements), respectively, 20 closer or further from the center or the X-axis of the center or main cartridge (or other elements). Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an outer member 25 of a first and second embodiments of a cartridge according to the present invention;

FIG. Fig. 2 shows the outer member shown in Fig. 2; 1, a cross-sectional view of a detail showing an inwardly directed cylindrical projection

FIG. Fig. 3 shows an exterior element shown in Fig. 3; 1, a cross-sectional view of a detail showing a slit 30; 4 is a view of the outer member of FIG. 1 perspective view from above;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an inverted outer member according to FIG. 1 perspective view from above;

FIG. Fig. 6 shows an exterior element according to FIG. Top view of plan 1; - ·; v r - 15 - ·; v r - 15

FIG. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inner member of the first embodiment of the cartridge;

FIG. Fig. 8 shows the inner element according to FIG. 7 perspective view from above;

FIG. Fig. 9 is a plan view of an inverted inner element according to FIG. 7 perspective view from top 5;

FIG. 10 is a view of the inner member of FIG. Plan view from above;

FIG. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a assembled cartridge;

FIG. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the inner member 10 of the second embodiment of the cartridge;

FIG. Fig. 13 shows the inner element according to FIG. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the opening;

FIG. Fig. 14 shows an inner element according to FIG. 12 perspective view from above;

FIG. Fig. 15 shows an inverted inner element according to FIG. 12 perspective view from the top 15;

FIG. Fig. 16 shows an inner element according to FIG. 12 other cross-sectional views;

FIG. Fig. 17 shows the inner element according to FIG. 12 cross-sectional view of another detail showing the air inlet;

FIG. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the assembled cartridge;

FIG. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of an outer member of a third and fourth embodiments of a cartridge according to the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a view of the outer member of FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a detail showing an inwardly directed cylindrical projection; FIG. Fig. 21 shows an exterior element according to FIG. Top view of plan 19;

FIG. 22 is a view of the outer member of FIG. 19 perspective view from above;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the inverted outer member of FIG. 19 perspective view from above;

FIG. Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the inner member 30 of the third embodiment of the cartridge;

FIG. 25 is a view of the inner member of FIG. 24 top plan view;

FIG. 26 is a view of the inner member of FIG. Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper edge;

FIG. 27 is a view showing the inner member of FIG. 24 perspective view from above; 16

FIG. 28 is a plan view of an inverted inner member of FIG. 24 perspective view from above;

FIG. Fig. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the assembled cartridge;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the inner member of the fourth embodiment of the cartridge;

FIG. 31 is a view showing the inner member of FIG. Top 30 plan view;

FIG. 32 is a view of the inner member of FIG. 30 perspective view from above;

FIG. 33 shows an inverted inner element according to FIG. 30 perspective view from above;

FIG. Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the assembled cartridge;

FIG. Figure 35a shows a graph of concentration with the working cycle;

FIG. Fig. 35b shows a schedule of foam formation with a duty cycle;

FIG. Fig. 35c shows a graph with temperature cycle time.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cartridge 1 according to the present invention generally has an outer member 2, an inner member 3 and a laminated material 5. An outer member 2, an inner member 3 and a laminate 5 are joined to form a cartridge 1 having an interior 120 for accommodating one or more beverage ingredients, the inlet 121, the outlet 122 and the beverage flow path connecting the inlet 121 with the outlet 122 and passing through the inlet 120. the inlet 121 and the outlet 122 are initially sealed by the laminate 5 and opened by piercing or cutting the laminate 5. The beverage flow path is defined as the internal space between the outer element 2, the inner member 3, and the laminate 5 as discussed below. Other elements may optionally be included in cartridge I, such as filter 4, as will be described below.

The first variant of cartridge 1, which will be described as the basis, is shown in FIG. 1 - II. The first version of the cartridge 1 is particularly used for dispensing filtered products such as roasted and ground coffee or tea. In addition, this cartridge 1 and other variants described below may be used with other products such as chocolate, coffee, tea, sweeteners, refreshing drinks, condiments, alcoholic beverages flavored with milk, fruit juices, soft drinks, sauces and desserts.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the cassette 1 generally has a circular or disc-shaped shape, with a diameter of the cassette 1 being much larger than its height. The main axis X passes through the center of the outer member as shown in FIG. 1. Typically, the outer member 2 17 has a diameter of 74.5 mm ± 6 mm and a total height of 16 mm ± 3 mm. Typically, the volume of the collected cartridge is 30.2 ml ± 20%. The outer member 2 is generally comprised of a bowl-shaped cover 10 having curved ring walls 13, covered with top 11 and open bottom 12. The diameter of the outer member 2 is 5 lower than the diameter of the bottom 12 at the top 11, resulting in the propagation of the ring wall 13 extending transversely from Covered Top 11 to Open Bottom 12. Ring Wall 13 and Covered Top 11 together define container-containing interior 34.

The coated top 11 has a hollow inwardly directed cylindrical projection 18 centered on the main axis X. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical projection 18 has a 10 stepped profile having a first second and a third portion 19, 20 and 21. The first part 19 is a static, round, cylindrical part. The second part 20 is cut in a conical shape and tapering inwards. The third part 21 is the other status round cylinder covered with the lower surface 31. The diameter of the first, second and third portions 19,20 and 21 decreases with increasing diameter so that the diameter of the cylindrical projection 18 decreases as it passes across the top surface 11 of the cylindrical projection 15 18 covered with the lower surface 31 18 Typically, the horizontal edge 32 is formed on the cylindrical projection 18 at the junction between the second and third portions 20 and 21. The extending edge 33 is formed in the outer member 2 towards the bottom 12. The extending edge 33 forms the second wall 15, co-circular 13, to define Ring Ring forming a collector 16 between the second wall 15 20 and the annular wall 13. The collector 16 extends around the periphery of the outer member 2. A plurality of slots 17 are arranged in the annular wall 13 at the collector level 16 to form gas and fluid communication between the collector 16 and the inner member 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the slits 17 form vertical slits in the ring wall 13. The slits are from 20 to 40. In the embodiment, thirty-seven slits 17 are shown, generally spaced at equal intervals around the periphery 16 of the collector. Preferably, the lengths of the slits 17 are from 1.4 to 1.8 mm. Usually the length of each slit is 1.6 mm, representing 10% of the total height of the outer member 2. The width of each cut is between 0.25 and 0.35 mm. Usually the width of each cut is 0.3 mm. The width of the slits 17 is narrow enough to prevent the beverage ingredients from leaking through them into or through the collector 16. 30 The entrance chamber 26 is formed in the outer element 2 at its periphery. As best seen in FIG. Fig. 5 shows a cylindrical wall 27 defining the interior of the inlet chamber 26 and enclosing the entrance chamber 26 from the interior of the outer member 2. The cylindrical wall 27 has a closed upper surface 28 formed in a plane perpendicular to the main axis X and an open lower end 29 having a common plane with the bottom of the outer element 2 12. 18

The inner chamber 26 communicates with the collector 16 through two incisions 30 as shown in FIG. 1. In contrast, to communicate between the collector 16 and the inner chamber 26, one to four incisions may be used. The lower end of the shoulder 33 extending externally has an outwardly extending edge 35, 5 extending perpendicular to the main axis X. The width of the edge 35 is generally 2 to 4 mm. The part 35 of the curve is enlarged to form a handle 24, which allows the outer member 2 to be held. The handle 24 has an upside-down rim 25 to improve grip. The outer member 2 is formed as a single integral element of high density 10 polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester or laminate of two or more of these materials. Suitable polypropylene is a polymer group derived from DSM UK Limited (Redditch, United Kingdom). The outer member may be opaque, transparent or semi-transparent. The production method can be casting.

The inner element 3 as shown in FIG. 7-10, has an annular frame 41 and a downwardly extending cylindrical funnel 40. The main axis X passes through the center of the inner element 3 as shown in FIG. 7.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the annular frame 41 has an outer rim 51 and an inner hub 52 connected by ten spaced-spaced ten radial spokes 53. The inner hub 5 is integral with and extends from the cylindrical hopper 40. The filter openings 55 20 are formed in the annular frame 41 between the radial spokes 53. The filter 4 is placed on the annular frame 41 to cover the filter openings 55. Preferably, the filter is made of a material having a high wet strength, such as a polyester nonwoven fiber material. . Other materials that can be used include waterproof cellulosic material such as cellulose-woven paper fibers. Woven paper fibers can be mixed with polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and / or polyethylene fibers. The incorporation of these plastic materials into the cellulosic material gives the cellulosic material a heat retention property. The filter 4 can also be treated or coated with a material that is activated by heat and / or pressure so that it can thus be sealed tightly to the ring ring 3 0.

As shown in FIG. In the cross-sectional view 7, the inner hub 52 is positioned lower than the outer rim 51, so that the annular frame 41 has a sloping lower profile.

The top surface of each spoke 53 has a straight edge 54 that divides the empty space over the ring frame 41 into a plurality of channels 57. Each channel 57 is limited by the two edges 54 and the filter 4 from the bottom 19. Channels 57 extend from the outer periphery 51 down to the cylindrical funnel 40 to the openings 56 defined at the inner ends of the ribs 54 and are open to the funnel.

The cylindrical funnel 40 is formed by an outer tube 42 surrounding the inner discharge neck 5. 43. The outer tube 42 forms the outside of the cylindrical funnel 40. The outlet neck 43 is connected to the outer tube 42 at the top of the discharge neck 43 by the annular flange 47. The discharge neck 43 comprises an inlet 45 at the upper end which communicates with the orifice 56 of the channels 57, and an outlet 44 at the lower end through which the ready beverage is poured into the cup ψ or into the cup ψ, or another container. The spout 43 is formed by a cut cone portion 48 at the upper end 10 and a cylindrical portion 58 at the lower end. The cylindrical part 58 may be slightly tapered so as to narrow towards the outlet 44. The portion of the cut cone 48 serves to guide the beverage from the channels 57 downstream of the outlet 44 without forming a turbulence of the beverage flow. The top surface of the cut cone portion 48 has four support edges 49, spaced evenly spaced around the periphery of the cylindrical funnel 40. The supporting edges 49 define the channels 50. The upper edges of the support edges 49 are aligned with each other and perpendicular to the main axis X.

The inner member 3 can be formed as a single integral element of polypropylene or a similar material as described above by the same molding process as an outer member 2. 20 Conversely, the inner member 3 and / or the outer member 2 can be made of a microorganism degradable polymer. Examples of suitable materials include decomposing polyethylene (e.g., SPITEK, supplied by Symphony Environmental, Borehamwood, UK), microorganism degradable polyester amide (e.g., BAK 1095 supplied by Symphony Environmental), polypacetic acid (PLA, supplied by Cargil, 25 Minnesota, USA), polymers based on starch, cellulose derivatives and polypeptides.

The layered material consists of two layers, the first layer of aluminum and the second layer of polypropylene used. The thickness of the aluminum layer is 0.02 to 0.07 mm. The thickness of the polypropylene layer is 0.025 to 0.065 mm. In one embodiment, the thickness of the aluminum layer is 0.06 mm and the thickness of the polypropylene layer 30 is 0.025 mm. This laminate is particularly useful as it has high resistance to bending during assembly. Therefore, the laminate 5 may be pre-cut to adjust size and shape and further passed to the assembly bar in the production line without deformation. Thus, the laminate 5 is particularly suitable for melting. Other laminates may be used, including PET / aluminum / PP, PE / EVOH / PP. PET / metallised material / PP and aluminum / PP laminated materials. Rolled laminated material can be used instead of pressed raw material.

The cartridge may be closed with a rigid or semi-rigid cap instead of a flexible laminate. The assembly of the cartridge 1 comprises the following steps: a) inserting the inner member 3 into the outer member 2; b) the filter 4 is cut to shape and placed on the inner member 3 so as to fit above the cylindrical funnel 40 and rest on the annular frame 41; c) the inner e-element 3, the outer e-element 2 i r the filter 4 s is connected to the ltrar 10 welding; d) filling the cartridge 1 with one or more beverage ingredients; e) The laminate 5 is attached to the outer member 2. These steps will be discussed in more detail below. The outer member 2 is oriented upwardly to the open bottom 12. Then, the inner member 3 is inserted into the outer member 2 with the outer edging 51 to freely fit into the axial projection 14 at the top of the cartridge 1. The cylindrical projection 18 of the outer member 2 is simultaneously placed in the upper cylindrical portion 40 of the inner member 3. Cylindrical projection 18, third portion 21 inserted into the inside of the cylindrical funnel 40 with the cylindrical projection 18 closed bottom 31 supported by the support edges of the inner member 3. The filter 4 is then placed 20 above the inner member 3 so that the filter material is in contact with the annular edging 51. 4 is connected to the inner member 3 and at the same time in the same process step the ultrasonic welding method is used to connect the inner member 3 to the outer member 2. The inner member 3 and the filter 4 are welded to the outer ring 51. The inner member 3 and the outer member 2 are joined by welding lines around the outer ring 51 and also around the upper edges of the ribs 54.

As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 11, the outer member 2 and the inner member 3, when coupled together, define an empty space 130 inside 120 below the ring frame 41 and the outside of the cylindrical funnel 40 forming the filter chamber. Filtering chamber 130 and channels 57 over filter ring 41 are separated by filter paper 4 30 Filtration chamber 130 contains one or more beverage ingredients 200. One or more beverage ingredients are packed in a filter chamber 130. Filtered beverages are usually ingredients roasted and ground coffee or tea. If it is decided, the density of the packaging of the beverage ingredients in the filtration chamber 130 can be changed. Typically, for a filtered coffee product, the filtration chamber can contain from 5.0 to 10.2 in 21 g of roasted and ground coffee in a filtration layer generally of 5 to 14 mm thick. Optionally, the interior 120 may accommodate one or more elements, such as balls, which move freely within the 120 to assist in stirring, causing turbulence and agitation of the beverage ingredients in the beverage outflow.

The laminate 5 is then attached to the outer member 2, forming a weld seam 126 around the edge 5 of the laminate to connect the laminate with the bottom surface of the upwardly projecting protruding edge 35. The weld seam 126 is designed to seal the laminate 5 at the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 27 of the inlet chamber 26. Further, the weld seam 125 is formed between the laminate 5 and the lower edge of the outer tube 42 of the cylindrical funnel 40 so that the inner member 3 extends between the outer member 2 and the laminate 5. The laminate 5 forms the bottom wall of the filter chamber 130 and also seals the inlet chamber 26. and a cylindrical funnel 40. In addition, there is a small gap 123. Before working between the laminate 5 and the lower edge of the spout 43, various welding techniques can be used, such as thermal and ultrasonic welding, depending on the characteristics of the constituents of the laminate 5.

It is useful that the inner member 3 is positioned between the outer member 2 and the laminate 5. The inner member 3 is formed from a relatively rigid material such as polypropylene. The inner member 3 forms a load carrying member that operates by retaining the gap between the laminate 5 and the outer member 2 when the cartridge 1 is pressed. Preferably, during use, the cartridge 1 is subjected to a crushing load of 130 to 280 N, the load being applied to a beverage preparation machine in which the cartridge is housed. In addition, the force of the cartridge and apparatus may be lower, but greater than 50 N. The compressive force prevents the cartridge from being weakened by an internal pressure rise and also serves to compress the inner member 3 and the outer member 2 together. This ensures that the internal dimensions of the channels and openings in the cartridge 1 will be locked and cannot be replaced by the pressure rise of the cartridge 1.

In order to use cartridge 1, it is first placed in a beverage preparation machine, and the inlet and outlet are opened with sharp elements of the beverage preparation machine, which perforate and fold the laminate 5. The water medium, usually water, is pressurized into the cartridge 1 through the inlet 121 into the inlet. chamber 26 at a pressure of 0.1 to 2.0 bar. The water is then directed to flow through the notches 30 and around the collectors 16, and the filter chamber 130 of the cartridge 1 through a plurality of incisions 17. The water is pressed radially into the filter chamber 130 and mixed with the beverage ingredients 200. At the same time, the water is pressed up through the beverage ingredients. Drinking water through the beverage ingredients passes through the filter 4 and the filter openings 55 into the channels 57 lying above the ring frame 41. Sealing the filter 4 on the spokes 53 and the peripheral element 2 of the rim 51 ensures that there is no short connection and that the entire beverage runs out through the filter 4.

The beverage then flows down through the radial channels 57 formed between the ridges 54 and through the openings 56 into the cylindrical funnel 40. The beverage passes through the channels 50 between the support flanges 47 and down through the discharge neck 43 into the outlet 44, where the beverage is poured into a container such as a cup.

Preferably, the beverage preparation machine has air purification capability, compressed air is pressed through the cartridge at the end of the work cycle 1 to displace the remaining beverage into the vessel.

A second variant of cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. 12 - 18. The second version of cartridge 1 is particularly useful for pouring express products, such as roasted and ground coffee, where it is desirable to produce a beverage-containing bubble foam. Many of the features of the second variant cartridge 1 are the same as those of the first variant and the same digits are used to indicate the same features. The following description will discuss the differences between the first and second options. Common features that work in the same way will not be discussed in detail. The outer member 2 is of the same construction as the first version of the cartridge 1 and is shown in FIG. 1-6.

The ring member 41 of the inner member 3 is the same as the first version. The filter 4 is also disposed on the ring frame 41 to cover the filter openings 55. The outer tube 42 of the cylindrical funnel 40 is the same as the previous one. In addition, there are some differences in the construction of the second element of the inner element 2 compared to the first variant. As shown in FIG. 16, the spout 43 has a partition 65 extending from the outlet 44 to half the discharge spout 43. Partition 65 helps prevent splashing and / or splashing of the beverage when the beverage flows through the spout 43. The profile of spout 43 is also different and has a stepped profile with a separate sudden turning 66 close to the upper end of the tube 43.

The skirt 67 is constructed upright from the annular flange 47 connecting the outer tube 42 with the discharge neck 43. The skirt 67 surrounds the inlet 45 into the discharge neck 43 and defines the annular channel 69 between the rim 67 and the upper portion of the outer tube 42. The rib 67 has an inwardly directed ribs 68. On one side, the circumference of the circumferential 67 is a gap 70 23 dlf groove shape extending from the upper edge of the rib 67 to a point just below the edge 68, as most clearly shown in FIG. 12 and 13. Groove width 0.64 mm.

The air inlet 71 is arranged in the circumferential flange 47 according to the perimeter and aligned with one line with space 70 as shown in FIG. 16 and 17. The air inlet opening 71 has a hole passing through the flange 47 so as to connect the space above the flange 47 with an empty space beneath the flange 47 between the outer tube 42 and the discharge spout 43. The inlet 71 has an upper cut conical portion 73 and a lower cylindrical portion 72. The air inlet 71 is generally formed by a molding tool such as a finger. The tapered profile of the air inlet 71 makes it easier to remove the die from the cast element. The wall of the outer tube 42 near the air inlet 71 is formed to form a duct 75 extending from the inlet 45 of the air inlet 71 to the discharge neck 43. As shown in FIG. 17, the sloping edge 74 is formed between the air inlet 71 and the duct 75 to ensure that the beverage jet coming out of the groove 70 does not immediately strike the upper surface of the flange 47 close to the air inlet 71.

As in the first embodiment, the inner member 3 acts as a load carrying element.

The assembly procedure of variant 1 of the second cartridge is similar to the first variant. However, there are some differences. As shown in FIG. 18, the third portion 21 of the cylindrical projection 18 is inserted inside the support ring 67 more than against the support edge. The edge 32 of the cylindrical projection 18 between the second portion 20 and the third portion 21 is based on the upper edge of the support ring 67 of the inner member 3. The joint zone 124 is formed between the inner member 3 and the outer member 2 forming the end seal between the cylindrical projection 18 and the support ring 67 extending around the entire circumference of the cartridge 1. The seal between the cylindrical projection 18 and the support ring 67 is fluid-conductive, since the groove 70 in the support flange 67 passes through the support ring 67 and down to the location just below the edge 68. Therefore, the joint is arranged between the cylindrical projection 18 and the support ring 67 transforms the groove 70 into as shown in FIG. 18, for gas and fluid communication between the annular channel 69 and the discharge neck 43. The opening is generally 0.64 mm wide and 0.69 mm long.

The work of dispensing a beverage in the second cartridge variant 1 is similar to the work of the first variant, with some differences. Drinking radial channels 57 flowing down along the channels 57 formed by such edges 54, and through holes 56 into the channels of the cylindrical funnel 40. The beverage from the ring channel 69 is pushed through the orifice 128 by the suction pressure of the beverage accumulated in the filter chamber 130 and channels 57. Thus, the beverage ejected through a 24 9 c / ~ aperture 128 as a jet into the expansion chamber formed by the upper edge of the discharge neck 43. As shown in FIG. 18, the beverage jet goes directly through the air inlet 71. When the beverage enters the discharge neck 43, the pressure of the beverage jet drops. As a result, air is introduced into the beverage stream through the air inlet 71 in the form of a plurality of small air bubbles. The beverage jet coming out of the opening 128 is directed downward to the outlet 44, where the beverage is poured into a container, such as a cup, where the air bubbles form the desired foam. Thus, the orifice 128 and the air inlet 71 together form a jet pump that carries the air into the beverage. The flow of the beverage into the jet pump must be as uniform as possible to reduce pressure loss. Useful when the jet pump walls are made concave to minimize losses due to the frictional effects of the wall. The tolerance for the 128 dimensions of the aperture is low. Preferably, the opening size is set to ± 0.02 mm2. Hair, fibers, or other surface inaccuracies can be inside or at the jet pump outlet to increase the effective cross-section area found to increase the degree of air intake.

A third variant of cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. 19-29. The third variant of cartridge 1 is particularly useful for pouring soluble products which may contain powder, liquid, syrup, jelly or the like. The soluble product is dissolved or suspended in an aqueous medium, such as water, when the water medium passes through the cartridge during use. Examples of beverages include chocolate, coffee, milk, tea, broth or other re-hydrated or water-soluble products. Many of the features of the third version of cartridge 1 are the same as those of the prior art, and uniform numerical references are used for uniform features. The following description will discuss the differences between the third and previous versions. General features that work in the same way will not be discussed in more detail.

In comparison with the outer element 2 of the previous variants, the hollow inwardly directed cylindrical projection 18 of the outer element 2 of the third variant has a larger overall diameter as shown in FIG. 20. The diameter of the first portion 19 is generally between 16 and 18 mm, compared with the diameter of the outer member 2 of the previous variants, which is 13.2 mm. In addition, the first portion 19 has a convex outer surface 19a or bulging as best shown in FIG. 20, the function of which will be described below. The diameter of the third portion 21 of the cartridge 1 is, moreover, the same in the area of the edge 32 as the larger version of the third cartridge 1. Typically, the volume of the collected cartridge 1 is 32.5 ml ± 20%.

The number and arrangement of the grooves at the lower edge of the ring wall 13 are also varied. There are 3 to 5 grooves. FIG. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 23, 25 four grooves 36 are provided, spaced evenly around the circumference of the circumference 16. The grooves 36 are slightly wider than in previous versions of cartridge 1, from 0.35 to 0.45 mm, preferably 0.4 mm wide.

In other aspects, the outer elements 2 of the cartridge 1 are the same.

The construction of the cylindrical funnel 40 of the inner member 3 is the same as that of the cassette 1 in the first vice of the cylindrical sleeve 4 2, discharged by the blade 4 5, the flange flange 47 and the supporting ribs 49. The only difference is that the spout 45 has an upper portion of the cut cone 92 and a lower cylindrical portion 93.

In contrast to previous embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 24-28, the annular frame 41 is replaced by a part of the cap 80 which surrounds the cylindrical funnel 40 and is connected to it by eight radial rods 87 which come in contact with the cylindrical funnel 40 at or near the annular flange 47. The cylindrical projection 81 of the hood portion 80 extends upwardly from the rod 87 to define the chamber 90 with an open top surface. The upper edge 91 of the cylindrical projection 81 has a folded profile as shown in FIG. 26. The circumferential wall 82 of the enclosure portion 80 extends downwardly from the rod 87 to define the annular channel 86 between the bonnet portion 80 and the outer tube 42. The ring wall 82 at the lower edge has an outer flange 83 lying perpendicular to the main axis X. The flange 84 extends downwardly from the base axis. The flange 83 has a lower p aperture 83 and has five openings 85 spaced evenly around the perimeter around the circumference 84. In this way, the rim has a serrated lower profile.

The openings 89 are arranged between the rods 87 and allow contacting the camera 90 with the annular channel 86.

As in the first embodiment, the inner member 3 acts as a load carrying element.

The assembly procedure for the third variant of cartridge 1 is the same as for the first variant with only some differences. The outer member 2 and the inner member 3 are pressed against each other as shown in FIG. 29, and is better kept together by clicking than welding. By joining the two elements, the inwardly directed cylindrical projection 18 is housed within the cylindrical projection 81 of the cap portion 80. The inner member 3 is retained in the outer member 2 by the frictional engagement of the convex outer surface 19a of the first portion 19 of the cylindrical projection 18 with the curved edging 91 of the upper cylindrical projection 81. The position of the mixing chamber 134 in the outer member 2 with the inner element 3 disposed therein is set outside the cover portion 80. Drinking ingredients 200 are placed in the mixing chamber 134 prior to bottling. It should be noted that the four inlet grooves 36 26 and the five openings 85 are spaced perimeter relative to each other. The two-part radial arrangement of each other does not require setting or locking during assembly, since the use of four inlet grooves 36 and five openings 85 ensures that there is a mismatch between the inlet grooves and openings in any relatively variable arrangement of the elements. Other input port and output port numbers can be determined by the formula: X0 = Xj + C where

Xj = number of inlets Xo = number of outlets C = set of integers except 0 or nXj n = any integer.

In addition, the same number of inlet and outlet openings may be provided spaced unevenly around the cartridge to ensure non-alignment of the inlet and outlet ports.

One or more beverage ingredients are added to the cartridge mixing chamber 134. If desired, the density of the beverage ingredients in the mixing chamber 134 can be varied.

The laminate 5 is then attached to the outer member 2 and the inner member 3 in the same manner as described above in the previous embodiments.

During use, the water enters the mixing chamber 134 through the four grooves 36 in the same manner as in the previous versions of the cartridge. The water is pressed radially through the mixing chamber and mixed with the beverage ingredients contained therein. In the mixing chamber 134, the product is dissolved or mixed in water to form a beverage, and then the drinking and water suction pressure in the mixing chamber 134 is directed through openings 85 to the annular channel 86. The perimeter arrangement of the four inlet grooves 36 and the five openings 85 ensures that the jets cannot flow radially straight from the inlet grooves 36 into the openings 85 without circulation in the mixing chamber 134. Thus, the degree of dissolution or mixing and consistency of the product increases significantly. The beverage is pushed up into the annular channel 86 through the openings 89 between the rods 87 and the chamber 90. The beverage passes from the chamber 90 through the inlet openings 45 between the support edges 49 to the discharge neck 43 and toward the outlet 44 where the beverage is poured into a container, e.g. cup. The cartridge is particularly suitable for use with beverage ingredients that are in the form of a thick liquid or gel. For single use, the liquid chocolate ingredient with a viscosity of 5,000 to 10,000 mPa at 0 ° C and a solid body fryer in the Brick number 67 ± 3 is contained in a cassette 1. For other use 27, liquid coffee has a viscosity of 70 to 2000 mPa at 0 ° C and a total solids content of 40 to 70% contained in the cartridge 1. The liquid coffee ingredient may contain from 0.1 to 2.0% by weight of sodium bicarbonate, preferably from 0.5 to 1.0% by weight . Sodium bicarbonate maintains a pH of 4.8 or lower, allowing coffee to extend the storage life of 5 filled cartridges to 12 months.

The fourth variant of cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. 30 - 34. The fourth variant of cartridge 1 is specifically for use in dispensing liquid products, such as concentrated natural milk. Many of the features of the fourth version of cartridge 1 are the same as those of the previous versions, and the same digits are used to refer to the same attributes. 10 The following description will discuss the differences between the fourth and previous versions. Common features that function in the same way will not be discussed in more detail. The outer member 2 is the same as in the third variant of cartridge 1 and is shown in FIG. 19-23.

The cylindrical funnel 40 of the inner member 3 is similar to that shown in the second version of cartridge 15 1, but with some differences. As shown in FIG. 30, the spout 43 is formed with an upper portion of the cut cone 106 and a lower cylindrical portion 107. There are three axial edges 105 on the inner surface of the spout 43 for deflecting the spilled beverage downwardly to the outlet 44 and protecting the spilled beverage from rotation in the neck. Therefore, the edges 105 act as an attenuator. As in the second variant of cartridge 20 1, the air inlet 71 is provided in the annular flange 47. In addition, the duct 75 below the air inlet 71 is much longer than in the second variant.

The cover portion 80 is similar to that shown in the third variant of cartridge 1. The edge 84 is provided with 55 to 12 openings 85. Generally, ten openings are made more than five, as shown in the third variant of cartridge 1. 25 The circular bowl 100 extends from the flange 83 of the cap portion 80 and is integral with it. The circular bowl 100 has a widespread body 101 with an open top opening 104 facing upwards. FIG. 30 and 31 show four delivery openings 103 disposed in the housing 101 at the bottom or near the pelvis 100, where it connects to the hood portion 80. Preferably, the supply apertures are spaced evenly around the periphery of the pelvic 100. As in the first embodiment, the inner member 3 acts as a load carrying element.

The laminate 5 is of the kind described in the above variants. 28

The assembly procedure for option 1 of the fourth cartridge is the same as for the third variant.

The work of the fourth version of the cartridge is similar to the third option. The water enters the cartridge 1 and into the mixing chamber 134 in the same manner as before. The water is mixed with the 5 diluted or liquid product, which is then displaced below the pelvis 100 through the openings 85 towards the outlet 44 as described above. Part of the liquid product is initially stored in an annular bowl 100 as shown in FIG. 34 and then not diluted with water contained in the mixing chamber 134. The diluted liquid product in the lower part of the mixing chamber 134 tends to exit better through openings 85 than to be pushed into the annular bowl 100 10 through the upper opening 104. Therefore, the liquid product in the ring bowl 100 will remain relatively concentrated through the initial stages of the work cycle compared to the product at the bottom of the mixing chamber 134. The liquid product in the circular bowl 100 is subjected to a force of gravity through the supply ports 103 to the product stream exiting the mixing chamber 134 through the openings 85 and below the pelvis 100. The circular bowl 100 aligns the 15 concentration of the diluted liquid product entering the cylindrical hopper 40, retaining some of the concentrated liquid. the product is released and discharged into the outgoing fluid stream more stable throughout the discharge cycle as shown in FIG. 35a, wherein the milk concentration as a percentage of the total amount of solid particles present is shown during the working cycle for approximately 15 seconds. Line a illustrates a concentration profile with a bowl 100, while line b 20 illustrates a non-pelvic cartridge 100. As can be seen, the concentration profile with the bowl 100 is higher even during the work cycle and there is no sudden high concentration drop as does the pelvis 100. Milk primary the concentration is usually 30-35% of the suspended solids and 10% of the suspended solids at the end of the cycle. This ends with a dilution ratio of about 3 to 1, although the dilution ratio of 1 to 1 and 6 to 1 according to the present invention is possible according to the invention. For example, liquid chocolate has an initial concentration of approximately 67% suspended solids and 12-15% suspended solids at the end of that cycle. This ends with a dilution ratio (ratio of water medium to beverage ingredient in the prepared beverage) of about 5 to 1, although dilution ratios of 2 with 1 and 10 with 1 according to the present invention are possible. - 2% suspended solids. This ends with a dilution ratio of 20 with 1 and 70 with 1, although dilution ratios of 10 with 1 and 100 with 1 according to the present invention are possible. The beverage from the annular channel 86 is pressed with an inlet pressure 128 in the filter chamber 134 and the suction pressure of the beverage collected in the chamber 90. Thus, the beverage 29 is pushed through the orifice 128 as a jet to the upper edge of the discharge neck 43 formed in the expansion chamber. As shown in FIG. 34, the beverage jet passes directly through the air inlet 71. When the beverage enters the tipping neck 43, the jet pressure drops. Therefore, air is introduced into the beverage stream through the air inlet 71 in the form of numerous small air bubbles. The beverage jet from the outlet 128 is directed downward to the outlet 44, where the beverage is poured into a container such as a cup where the air bubbles form the desired foamy appearance.

Useful when the inner member 3, the outer member 2, the laminate 5 and the filter 4 can all be effortlessly sterilized due to the separation of the elements and that they do not separately form winding channels or narrow cracks. Only after the elements are connected after sterilization, the necessary channels are formed. This is especially important where the beverage ingredient is a milk-based product, such as a natural milk concentrate. The fourth version of the beverage cartridge is particularly useful for pouring milk based on a concentrated product, such as natural milk. Previously, milk powder products were supplied in the form of sachets in a pre-prepared beverage. In addition, a cappuccino drink requires milk foam. This was previously achieved by passing steam through a natural milk product. In addition, this requires provisions to supply steam which increases the cost and complexity of the apparatus used to dispense the beverage. The use of steam also increases the risk of injury to the cartridge. Therefore, the present invention provides a cartridge containing liquid products based on milk. It has been found that concentrating milk products can provide more foam for a given volume of milk when compared to fresh or sterilized supercar milk. This reduces the size of the milk cartridge. Fresh semi-skimmed milk has approximately 1.6% fat and 10% solid particles. The concentrated natural milk formulations of the present invention comprise from 0.1 to 12% fat and from 25 to 40% solids. In a typical example, the workpiece has 4% fat and 30% solids. Concentrated milk blanks are suitable for making foam using a low pressure preparation machine as described below. In particular, milk frothing is achieved at a pressure below 2 bar, preferably at about 1.5 bar using the fourth embodiment of the cartridge described above

Foaming of concentrated milk is particularly useful for beverages such as cappuccino and milk shakes. Preferably, the passage of milk through the opening 128 and above the air inlet 71 and the use of the optional pelvis 100 enable the milk frothing level to be greater than 40%, preferably greater than 70%. For liquid chocolate, the foaming rate is higher than 70%. For liquid coffee, the foaming rate is higher than 70%. 30

The foaming level is measured as the ratio of the volume of foam formed to the volume of the liquid beverage ingredient prepared. For example, 138.3 ml of beverage is prepared, 58.3 ml of foam, foam formation is measured as [58.3 / (138.3-58.3)] * 100 = 72.9%. The formation of foam of milk (and other liquid ingredients) is increased by the condition of the pelvic 100 as shown in FIG. 35b. 5 Foaming (line a) of milk dispensed in a bowl 100 is larger than that of milk without a bowl (line b). This is because milk foam formation is directly linked to the milk concentration and as shown in FIG. 35a, bowl 100 retains a higher milk concentration in the larger portion of the working cycle. It is also known that the formation of milk foam is directly related to the temperature of the water medium as shown in FIG. 35c. In this way, the bowl 100 is useful because more milk remains in the cartridge near the end of the working cycle when the water medium is the hottest. This again improves foam formation.

The fourth version of the cassette is also useful for extracting liquid coffee products. It has been found that embodiments of a beverage cartridge according to the present invention provide improved consistency of the beverage dispensed when compared to the prior art cartridges. References are made to Table 1 at the bottom, showing the output of liquid semi-finished product for twenty examples for each cartridge A and B containing roasted and ground coffee. The cartridge A is a beverage cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Cartridge B is a prior art cartridge as described in the Applicant's international application WO01 / 58786. The refractive index of the brewed beverage is measured by 20 Briks and converted to a percentage of soluble solids (TD%) using standard tables and formulas. Below are examples: TD% = 0.77774 * (Brick Number) + 0.0569. Yield% = (TD% * volume of liquid semi-finished product (g)) / (100 * coffee weight (g)) 25 31

Table 1 A cartridge

Example: Volume of liquid semi-finished product (g) Weight of coffee (g) Brick count TD% Output% 1 105.6 6.5 1.58 1.29 20.88 2 104.24 6.5 1.64 1.33 21.36 3 100.95 6.5 1.67 1.36 21.05 4 102.23 6.5 1.71 1.39 21.80 5 100.49 6.5 1.73 1.40 21.67 6 107 , 54 6.5 1.59 1.29 21.39 7 102.70 6.5 1.67 1.36 21.41 8 97.77 6.5 1.86 1.50 22.61 9 97.82 6.5 1.7 1.38 20.75 10 97.83 6.5 1.67 1.36 20.40 11 97.6 6.5 1.78 1.44 21.63 12 106.64 6, 5 1.61 1.31 21.47 13 99.26 6.5 1.54 1.25 19.15 14 97.29 6.5 1.59 1.29 19.35 15 101.54 6.5 1 , 51 1.23 19.23 16 104.23 6.5 1.61 1.31 20.98 17 97.5 6.5 1.73 1.40 21.03 18 100.83 6.5 1.88 1.36 21.14 19 101.67 6.5 1.67 1.36 21.20 20 101.32 6.5 1.68 1.36 21.24 Average 20.99 B cartridge

Example Volume of liquid semi-finished product (g) Weight of coffee (g) Brick count TD% Yield% 1 100.65 6.5 1.87 1.511 23.39 2 95.85 6.5 1.86 1.503 22.16 3 98.4 6.5 1.8 1.456 22.04 4 92.43 6.5 2.3 1.845 26.23 5 100.26 6.5 1.72 1.394 21.50 6 98.05 6.5 2.05 1.651 24 , 90 7 99.45 6.5 1.96 1.581 24.19 8 95.62 6.5 2.3 1.845 27.14 94.28 6.5 2.17 1.744 25.29 10 96.13 6, 5 1.72 1.394 20.62 11 96.86 6.5 1.81 1.464 21.82 12 94.03 6.5 2.2 1.767 25.56 13 96.28 6.5 1.78 1.441 21.34 14 95.85 6.5 1.95 1.573 23.19 15 95.36 6.5 1.88 1.518 22.28 16 92.73 6.5 1.89 1.526 21.77 17 88 6.5 1.59 1,293 17,50 18 93,5 6,0 2,08 1,674 24,08 19 100,88 6,5 1,75 1,417 22,00 20 84,77 6,5 2,37 1,899 24,77 Average 23,09 32

Following the statistical analysis of the t-test according to the data above, the following results were obtained: Table 2. T-Test: Two Sample Probably Equal Changes Output% (Cartridge A) Output% (Cartridge B)

Average 20,99 23,09 Change 0,77 5,04 Observations 20 20 Total Changes 2,90 Estimated Average Difference 0 df 38 t Status -3,90 P (T < = t) One End Phase 0.000188 t Critical One End Phase 1,686 P (T < = ri) Two End Phases 0,000376 t Critical Two End Phase 2,0244 Standard Deviation 0,876 2,245

The analysis showed that the% yield, which is equivalent to the strength of the liquid semi-finished product, is much better for the cartridges of the present invention (with a 95% confidence level) than the prior art cartridges at 0.88% of the standard deviation compared to 2.24%. This means that the beverages prepared by the cartridges of the present invention have a more repetitive and constant strength. Consumers who like to drink their drinks repeatedly and do not want arbitrary changes in beverage strength are eager to do this.

Although the first and second variants of the cartridge are described as being assembled by means of a welding step, they may also be assembled by means of injection according to the present invention. For example, the outer member 2 could be provided with a portion that interacts with the periphery of the annular frame 41 to form a click-on injection.

The cartridge materials described above may be provided with a barrier coating to improve their resistance to oxygen and / or humidity and / or other contaminants. The barrier coating may also reduce the outflow of the beverage ingredients from the cartridges and / or reduce the extraction rate of the extractable materials from the cartridge materials that may adversely affect the beverage ingredients. The barrier coating may be made of materials selected from PET, polyamide, EVOH, PVDC or other metallized materials. The barrier coating may be applied in a number of ways including, but not limited to, vapor deposition, vacuum deposition, plasma coating, bimetallic profile stamping, marking in molds, and casting in two or more stages.

Claims (115)

33 33 DEFINITION DEFINITION 1. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) formed from a base air and waterproof material, a cartridge having an inlet (121) for inserting a water medium into the cartridge and an outlet (122) for dispensing a beverage prepared from one or more ingredients when the cartridge has an outer member (2) and an inner member (3), assembling a connecting element with an outer member, characterized in that the inner member has a discharge neck (43) defining the outlet of the cartridge. . 2. A cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge neck (43) is integral with the inner member (3). 3. A cartridge (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge neck (43) has a conical portion (45; 92). 4. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge neck (43) has a cylindrical portion (58; 93). 5. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge neck (43) has a partition (65) extending at least a portion of the length along the length of the discharge neck. 6. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engagement between the outer member and the inner member is applied by a click-through. 7. A cartridge (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the injection is formed by a concurrent structure (19, 91) on the inner member and the outer member. 8. A cartridge (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the outer member (3) has a closed first end (11) and an open second end (12) connected to the outlet opening (44) of the inner and outer elements 34 facing to open second end. 9. A cartridge (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the inlet opening (121) 5 is directed towards the open end of the outer member. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that the outer member and the inner member are interconnected at or near the closed end (11) of the outer member. 10 11. A cartridge (1) as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the outer member has an inwardly directed projection (18) disposed at the proximal end of the discharge neck on the interconnection between the outer member and the inner member. 15 12. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the inner member (3) has a frame (41) on which the filter (4) is arranged. 13. A cartridge (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that one or more channels (57) are provided between the frame (41) and the closed first end (11) of the element 20 when the inner member and the outer member are interconnected. 14. A cartridge (1) according to claim 13, wherein one or more channels (57) are provided with ribs (54) extending upwardly from the frame towards the outer member 25 for closing the first end. 15. A cartridge (1) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein one or more channels (57) are inclined towards the discharge neck (43). 16. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the inner member (3) additionally has a cover (80) surrounding the spout neck. 35 35 17. A cartridge (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the cover (80) has an upper extension (81) which, when assembling the cartridge, contacts the closed first end (11) of the cartridge. 18. A cartridge (1) according to claim 17, wherein the upper edge (91) of the upper extension (81) engages the exterior structure (18, 91) of the outer member to form a snap-fit for interconnecting the inner member with the outer member. 19. A cartridge (1) according to claim 18, wherein the co-operating structure of the outer member is an inwardly directed projection (18). 20. A cartridge (1) as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped. 21. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for generating a beverage flow, these means forming a gap (70) in the beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet. 22. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet (121) and / or the outlet opening (122) are substantially covered with air and water-impermeable material prior to the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening during use. cassette e. 23. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet and / or the outlet port is substantially covered by a layer of air and water-impermeable laminate (5). 24. A cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the laminate is polypropylene. 25. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer member and / or the inner member are formed of polypropylene. 36 26. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer member and / or the inner member are formed from the microorganism degradable polymer. 27. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer member and / or the inner member are formed by casting. 28. A cartridge (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner member forms a load carrying the element. A plurality of cartridges (1), each cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the percentage yield of the beverage produced from one or more beverage ingredients contained in the cartridges does not exceed 1.0 of the standard deviations. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and formed from a base air and water impermeable material, a cartridge having an inlet (121) for introducing a water medium into the cartridge, and an outlet (122) of one or more beverages. ingredients for a ready-to-drink beverage, wherein the cartridge has an outer member (2), an inner member (3) inserted into the outer member and means for generating a beverage stream, wherein said means for generating a beverage stream has an opening (128) in a beverage flow path connecting the inlet with the outlet. in that the opening (128) is bounded by a junction between the inner member and the outer member. 31. A cartridge (1) according to claim 30, wherein one or the inner member (3) or the outer member (2) has a gap (70) and the other or inner member or outer member has a projection (18), wherein by inserting the inner member into the outer member, the protrusion (18) partially obstructs the gap (70), thereby limiting the opening (128). 32. A cartridge (1) according to claim 31, wherein the gap (70) comprises a long groove. 37 37 33. A cartridge (1) according to claim 32, wherein the inner member (3) has a long groove (70). 34. A cartridge (1) according to claim 33, wherein the outer member (2) has a projection (18). 35. A cartridge (1) according to claim 34, wherein the projection (18) is an extension of the outer member, at least part of which extends into the inner member. 36. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the long groove (70) is formed in the cylindrical wall (67) of the inner member. 37. A cartridge (1) according to claim 36, wherein the long groove (70) extends to the upper edge of the cylindrical wall (67). 15 38. A cartridge (1) according to claim 36, wherein the projection (18) of the outer member (2) comprises a cylindrical extension which is provided by a sliding injection in the cylindrical wall (67) of the inner member. 39. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein the opening (128) has a cross-sectional area of from 0.4 to 0.7 mm2. 40. A cartridge (1) as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 39, further comprising at least one air inlet (71) and means for reducing the pressure of the beverage jet 25, wherein during use the air from at least one air inlet (71) is inlet. to drink in the form of many small bubbles. 41. A cartridge (1) according to claim 40, wherein at least one air inlet (71) is disposed in the inner member (3) behind the opening (128). 30 42. A cartridge (1) according to claim 40 or 41, wherein the inner member (3) has a discharge neck (43) defining an outlet (122). 38 43. A cartridge (1) according to claim 42, wherein the beverage stream discharged through the orifice (128) is directed to the discharge neck (43). 44. A cartridge (1) according to claim 43, wherein the beverage stream hits the surface of the discharge neck (43) between the outlet (128) and the outlet (122). 45. A cartridge (1) according to claim 44, wherein said surface is a concave wall of the spout (43). 46. A cartridge (1) according to claim 45, wherein the concave wall is disposed on the opposite side of the outlet (128) of the spout (43). 47. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 30 to 46, wherein the opening (128) indicates a beverage to swing at an angle substantially perpendicular to the flow of beverage flowing through the outlet (122). 48. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 42 to 47, wherein the discharge neck (43) is integral with the inner member (3). 49. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 30 to 48, wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped. 50. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 30 to 49, wherein the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed of polypropylene. 51. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 30 to 50, wherein the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed of a polymer degradable by microorganisms. 52. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 30 to 51, wherein the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed by casting. 39 53. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and formed of substantially air and waterproof materials, the cartridge has a chamber (134) containing one or more beverage ingredients, the chamber has a plurality of inlet openings (36) for water medium. for introducing into a chamber and a plurality of outlets (85) of one or more beverage ingredients for a ready-to-drink beverage, wherein at least a portion of the inlet openings is not aligned with the outlet openings such that at least a portion of the water medium entering the chamber through the inlets is forced to circulate inside the chamber; characterized in that the inlet openings (36) are arranged around the periphery of the chamber. 54. A cartridge (1) according to claim 53, wherein the inlet openings (36) are spaced evenly around the periphery of the chamber. 55. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 54, wherein the outlet openings (85) are disposed towards the center of the chamber relative to the inlet openings. 56. A cartridge (1) according to claim 55, wherein the outlet openings (85) are spaced evenly around the center of the chamber. 57. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 56, characterized in that it has 3 to 10 inlets (36). 58. A cartridge (1) according to claim 57, having four inlets (36). 59. A cartridge (1) as claimed in any one of claims 53 to 58 having an outlet opening (85) of between 3 and 10. 60. A cartridge (1) according to claim 59, wherein there are 5 outlets (85). 61. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 60 having an uneven number of inlets (36) and outlets (85). 40 Ui 62. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 61, wherein the number of inlets (36) and outlets (85) is determined by the formula: X0 = Xi + C where Xi = number of inlets Xo = outlets number C = a set of integers other than 0 or nXj n = any integer. 63. The cartridge (1) according to claims 53 to 60 having a number of equal inlets (36) and outlets (85). 64. A cartridge (1) as claimed in any one of claims 53 to 63, wherein the inlet openings (36) are located in the outer member (2) of the cartridge and the outlet openings (85) in the cartridge inner member (3). 65. A cartridge (1) according to claim 64, characterized in that the inner member (3) has a discharge neck (43) communicating with the outlets (85). 66. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 65, wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped. 67. A cartridge (1) according to claim 66, wherein the flow of the water medium through the inlets (36) into the chamber (134) is radially directed toward the center of the cartridge. 68. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 67, wherein one or more beverage ingredients (200) are soluble in the aqueous medium. 69. A cartridge (1) according to claim 68, wherein one or more beverage ingredients (200) is a liquid chocolate or coffee ingredient. 70. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 69, wherein one or more beverage ingredients (200) are a concentrated liquid or gel. 41 41 71. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 53 to 70, wherein the viscosity of the liquid beverage ingredient (200) is from 70 to 3900 mPa at ambient temperature. 5 72. A cartridge (1) according to claim 71, wherein the viscosity of the liquid beverage ingredient (200) is from 1700 to 3900 mPa at ambient temperature. •. 73. The cartridge (1) of claim 72, wherein the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed of polypropylene. 74. A cartridge (1) according to claim 73, characterized in that the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed by casting. 15 75. A cartridge (1) as claimed in any one of claims 53 to 74, wherein the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed from a microorganism-degradable polymer. 76. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and formed of a substantially air-and water-impermeable material, the cartridge comprises an outer member (2) defining a storage chamber (130; 134) for holding one or more beverage ingredients. and an inner member (3) having a discharge neck (43) forming an outlet (122) out of one or more beverage ingredients to drain the ready-made beverage 25, characterized in that the inner member (3) forms a load carrying the element. 77. The cartridge (1) according to claim 76, wherein the inner member (3) and the outer member (2) are separate elements which are interconnected by assembling the cartridge. 78. A cartridge (1) according to claim 76 or 77, further comprising a filter (4) connected to the inner member (3). :, ί - 42 79. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 76 to 78, wherein the inner member (3) provides a load bearing element of sufficient strength so that the cartridge can withstand a compressive load greater than 130 N. 80. A cartridge (1) according to claim 79, wherein the load carrying element is of sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive force greater than 200 N. 81. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 76 to 80, characterized in that the load carrying element is of sufficient strength to allow the load carrying member to withstand a compressive force greater than 130 N. 82. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 76 to 81, wherein the inner member (3) is formed of polypropylene. 83. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 76 to 82, wherein the outer member (2) and / or the inner member (3) is formed from a microorganism degradable polymer. 84. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 76 to 83, wherein the inner member (3) and the discharge neck (43) are formed as one part. 85. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and formed from a base air and a waterproof material cartridge comprises a housing having a first closed end (11) and a second open end (12), the housing defining a storage chamber (130). 134) wherein one or more beverage ingredients are held in the second open end of the housing is covered by a cap (5), characterized in that the cartridge further comprises a load carrying member extending between the enclosed first end and the lid, and the load carrying member is located at the center of the cartridge or near him. 86. A cartridge (1) according to claim 85, wherein the load carrying member has a discharge neck (43) forming an outlet (122) out of one or more beverage ingredients to drain the prepared beverage. 43 43 87. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 85 to 86, wherein the load carrying element is of sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive load greater than 130 N. 88. A cartridge (1) according to claim 87, wherein the load carrying element is of sufficient strength to allow the cartridge to withstand a compressive load greater than 200 N. 89. The cartridge (1) according to any of claims 85 to 88, wherein the load carrying element is of sufficient strength to allow the load carrying member to withstand a compressive force greater than 130 N. 90. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and formed from a base air and water impermeable material comprises a cartridge consisting of an outer member (2) defining a holding chamber (130) in which one or more beverage ingredients are stored and the inner member is contained. the element (3) having a discharge neck (43) forming an outlet (122) out of one or more beverage ingredients to drain the prepared beverage and a filter (4) disposed between the storage chamber and the discharge neck, characterized in that the inner member and the filter is connected to the outer member in at least one step by at least one weld. 91. A cartridge (1) according to claim 90, wherein the outer member has an opening (12) for entry into the storage chamber (130) and that the inner member and filter are connected to the outer member at the base (11) remote from the opening. 92. A cartridge (1) according to claim 90 or 91, wherein the inner member, the outer member and the filter are in the form of a ring. 93. The cartridge (1) according to claim 92, wherein the weld is substantially circular. 44 44 94. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 91 to 93, wherein the inner member, the outer member is of plastic, and at least one weld is an ultrasonic seam. 95. A cassette (1) according to any one of claims 90 * 94, characterized in that the inner member is composed of a frame (41) and at least one weld is formed around the perimeter of the frame. • 96. A cartridge (1) according to claim 95, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of ribs (54) extending upwardly from the frame towards the outer end closed by the first end (11) to define one or more channels (57) between the frame and the outer member. closes the first end and that the weld seams are formed between the edges and the outer member closes at the first end. 97. A production cartridge for a cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) and formed from a base air and water impermeable material is composed of an outer member (2) defining a holding chamber (130) for holding one or more drinks. ingredients, and an inner member (3) having a discharge neck (43) forming an outlet (122) of one or more beverage ingredients to leak out the beverage, and a filter (4), characterized in that the method comprises connecting the inner member and the filter at one stage to the outer member at least one welding step. 98. The method of claim 97, wherein the welding step is ultrasonic welding. 99. The method of claim 97 or 98 further comprising forming a first welding line around the periphery of the inner member and the filter. 100. The method of claim 99 further comprising forming a second welding line around the periphery of the inner member and the filter at or near the spout. 45 101. A cartridge (1) containing one or more beverage ingredients (200) formed from a base air and water impermeable material, a cartridge having an inlet (121) for introducing a water medium into the cartridge, and an outlet (122) for dispensing from one or more more beverage ingredients for dispensing a ready-to-drink beverage, characterized in that the cartridge has an outer member (3), and the inner member (2) is connected to the outer member for assembly, the inner member defines the outlet of the cartridge, and that when assembling the cartridge between the outer member and the inner member Click-to-use injection is used for connection. 102. The cartridge (1) according to claim 101, wherein the injection is formed by interacting parts (19a, 91) on the inner member and the outer member. 103. A cartridge (1) according to claim 101 or 102, characterized in that the outer member (3) has a closed first end (11) and an open second end (12), the outlet opening (44) of the inner and outer elements of the connected elements facing outwardly. the open end of the element. 104. The cartridge (1) according to claim 103, wherein the inlet opening (121) is directed towards the open second end of the outer member. 105. A cartridge (1) according to claim 103 or 104, wherein the outer member and the inner member are pressed together at or near the closed end of the outer member. 106. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 101 to 105, wherein the injection between the inner member and the outer member forms a waterproof seal. 107. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 101 to 106, characterized in that the inner member further comprises a cover (80), the enclosure surrounding the outlet opening having an upper extension (81) having an upper edge (91) which, when assembling the cartridge, comprises: coupling the interacting portion (19a) of the outer member to form a snap-in click to connect the inner member with the outer member. 46 ................... -----------------------'- ~ r ιι. »| H. . * 108. The cartridge (1) of claim 107, wherein the interacting portion of the outer member is an inwardly directed projection (18). 109. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 101 to 108, wherein the inner member has a discharge neck (43) defining an outlet. A cartridge (1) according to claim 109, characterized in that the outer member has an inwardly directed projection (18) disposed at the proximal end of the spout (43) 10 on the interconnection between the outer member and the inner member. 111. The cartridge (1) according to claim 109 or 110, wherein the discharge neck (43) is integral with the inner member. 15 112. The cartridge (1) according to any of claims 109 to 111, wherein the discharge neck (43) has a conical portion (45; 106). 113. The cartridge (1) according to any of claims 109 to 112, wherein the discharge spout (43) has a cylindrical portion (93; 107). 114. The cartridge (1) according to any of claims 109 to 113, wherein the discharge neck (43) has a portion (65) extending at least partially along the length of the discharge neck. 25 115. A cartridge (1) according to any of claims 101 to 114, wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped. 116. The cartridge (1) according to any of claims 101 to 115, further comprising means for generating a beverage flow, said means comprising a gap (70) in the beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet. 117. The cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 101 to 116, wherein the outer member and / or the inner member are formed of polypropylene. 47 118. A cartridge (1) according to any one of claims 101 to 117, wherein the outer member and / or the inner member are formed by casting. 5