US20210147139A1 - Pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products - Google Patents
Pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20210147139A1 US20210147139A1 US16/611,519 US201816611519A US2021147139A1 US 20210147139 A1 US20210147139 A1 US 20210147139A1 US 201816611519 A US201816611519 A US 201816611519A US 2021147139 A1 US2021147139 A1 US 2021147139A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pack
- beverage
- inlet
- fluid
- food
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 81
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 43
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 65
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000005187 foaming Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001131 transforming effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 21
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 18
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 235000016213 coffee Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 235000013353 coffee beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 235000008504 concentrate Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 4
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 244000269722 Thea sinensis Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 235000014347 soups Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000013616 tea Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 244000299461 Theobroma cacao Species 0.000 description 2
- 239000006071 cream Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000012041 food component Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000005417 food ingredient Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000021539 instant coffee Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 240000007154 Coffea arabica Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000009470 Theobroma cacao Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000019219 chocolate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003085 diluting agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000020344 instant tea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000014666 liquid concentrate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000747 poly(lactic acid) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004626 polylactic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013570 smoothie Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000006188 syrup Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000020357 syrup Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000005028 tinplate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015192 vegetable juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a pack for preparing a foamed food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients.
- the invention relates to a pack comprising an insert through and a container where the ingredient or ingredients are stored.
- Preparing beverages by introducing a capsule containing a food or beverage ingredient, such as ground coffee or instant coffee, in a beverage dispensing machine and injecting water into the capsule is known in the state of the art: the beverage or food ingredient is typically extracted or dissolved into water to form the beverage or the desired final product, which flows out of the capsule through a suitable outlet.
- capsules have been developed in the past, these capsules being at least differentiated by the nature of the capsule body used for storing the food or the beverage ingredient. While most of the capsules are made of a rigid body or semi-rigid body, typically made through injection moulding or thermoforming, flexible types of packs can be made out of foil materials. Flexible packs have generally the advantage to semi-rigid and rigid capsules that less amount of material is used to pack the product which leads to overall less production cost, to lower life cycle impact shown in several life-cycle assessments and to advantages on the part of the user, who will need less available space for storing these packs, as they are more compact.
- a flexible beverage-producing sachet comprising a beverage ingredient in a volume formed by bonding two laminates at their edges, having a base seam into which a conduit of rigid plastics is bonded.
- An inlet nozzle is provided at the top of the resulting sachet for introducing water that is mixed with the beverage or food ingredient inside the inner volume of the sachet, the beverage produced being then evacuated through a beverage outlet arranged at the bottom of the pack, where closing means are provided, such that the closing means are adapted to open under pressure when pressurized water is introduced into the sachet, allowing the beverage to evacuate through the beverage outlet.
- the present invention comes to provide a solution to the above-described need, as it will be further explained.
- the invention also aims at other objects and particularly at the solution of other problems as will appear in the rest of the present description.
- the invention relates to a pack for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert and a container where the ingredient or ingredients are stored: the insert comprises a fluid inlet configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the pack, and the insert further comprises an air inlet communicating with the exterior of the pack and configured for introducing air in the inner volume of the pack.
- the air inlet is connected to an aspiration inlet through which the jet enters the inner volume of the pack, configured in such a way that air is aspirated through the air inlet when the jet is introduced inside the pack.
- the air inlet is typically connected to an aspiration inlet through which the jet enters the inner volume of the pack: the air inlet is connectable to external means actively injecting air in the inner volume of the pack.
- the fluid inlet is configured for transforming the pressurized fluid introduced by a beverage machine into a high velocity fluid jet in the inner volume of the pack.
- the fluid inlet communicates with a nozzle having a very restricted diameter with respect to the fluid inlet.
- the pack comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define the inner volume of the pack.
- the pack of the invention typically comprises a beverage outlet through which the beverage is delivered as a free flow.
- the beverage outlet is preferably a straight tube oriented essentially vertically at the bottom of the pack.
- the insert is preferably arranged on one of the sides of the pack and it comprises the fluid inlet, the air inlet and the beverage outlet.
- the container is configured to open in a certain pre-defined area to allow dispensing of the food or beverage prepared.
- the relative positioning of the aspiration inlet with respect to the air inlet, together with the diameter of the air inlet, typically define the level of foaming of the food or beverage prepared.
- the diameter of the nozzle and/or of the aspiration inlet define the design of the jet in the inner volume of the pack.
- the food or beverage ingredient is a soluble food or beverage ingredient.
- the container is configured as a sachet, a capsule or the like.
- the pack of the invention is configured in such a way that the fluid inlet can be accessed frontally and/or by the rear to introduce an aqueous fluid through one or the two sides.
- the air inlet obturation can be typically regulated in order to control the quantity of air injected.
- the pack of the invention typically presents a plane shape oriented along a plane essentially vertically oriented during beverage production and the fluid inlet orientates the jet of fluid in a direction comprised in said plane.
- the invention further relates to the use of a pack as described for preparing a food or beverage product.
- FIGS. 1 a - b show a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of an insert having an air inlet, configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of an insert having an air inlet, configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 shows a detailed frontal view of an insert according to FIG. 2 or 3 , configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to the present invention.
- FIG. 5 shows a view according to section A-A of the insert of FIG. 4 , configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to the present invention.
- the invention relates to a pack 100 for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients.
- the pack of the invention comprises an insert 10 and a container 20 .
- the container 20 comprises in its inner volume the food or beverage ingredient(s), typically a soluble powder that will be dissolved by a fluid introduced inside the volume of the container through the insert 10 .
- the fluid introduced through the insert 10 will be a liquid, preferably water.
- the food or beverage ingredient of the container can be comprised within the list of: soups, fruit juices, vegetable juices, bouillons, coffee, chocolate, tea, milk or creamer, smoothies, purees, coulis, creams or a combination thereof.
- the food or beverage ingredient can be a soluble food or beverage ingredient.
- the food or beverage ingredient is a soluble food or beverage ingredient selected in the list of:
- the powders can be agglomerated or sintered.
- the powders or liquid concentrates can be mixed with solid pieces for example for preparing soups with solid pieces.
- the food or beverage ingredient can also be an infusible food or beverage ingredient like a roast and ground coffee or tea leaves. In that embodiment water extracts the infusible ingredient.
- fluid covers any aqueous diluent that can be mixed with a soluble beverage ingredient to prepare a beverage, like water, carbonated water, milk, etc.
- a soluble beverage ingredient like water, carbonated water, milk, etc.
- water is the preferred fluid which will be used.
- the insert 10 comprises a fluid inlet 110 receiving a liquid, typically water, which is injected at a pressure higher than 2 bars, more preferably higher than 3 bars, preferably comprised between 2 and 10 bars, more preferably of around 7 bars.
- the fluid inlet 110 is configured in such a way that the high pressure fluid injected through it by external means (not shown) is converted into a high velocity jet 50 in the inner volume of the container 20 . This is done thanks to the restriction in diameter of the fluid inlet 110 , communicating with the inner volume of the container 20 through a nozzle 120 of a much reduced diameter, allowing the transformation of a high pressure jet into a high velocity jet.
- the fluid inlet 110 is communicated with the inside volume of the container through at least one nozzle 120 , having a diameter of at most 1 mm, preferably of at least 0.24 mm, preferably comprised between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, more preferably of about 0.4 mm.
- a high pressure fluid is injected by external injecting means through the fluid inlet 110 , it is conveyed internally towards the nozzle 120 , from which it is converted into a high velocity jet of fluid 50 injected inside the container 20 when passing through the small section nozzle hole.
- this jet of fluid 50 provided in the container has a velocity of at least 20 m/s.
- the insert 10 further comprises an air inlet 150 communicating with the exterior of the pack 100 and configured for introducing air in the inner volume of the pack 100 (see for example FIG. 5 ) in order to obtain a good foaming during the dissolution of the powder product comprised inside the container 20 .
- the insert 10 is preferably rigid and is made of a rigid plastic material, preferably by injection moulding.
- this plastic material can be selected from the following: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid.
- the fitment assembly 10 can be made of a metal like aluminium or tin-plate.
- the insert of the invention is structurally configured to create an adequate water jet 50 and air into the volume of the container in order to control and stabilize foaming of the product beverage produced.
- the product inside the container is a soluble powder that will be dissolved by the water jet 50 .
- air will be introduced inside the volume of the pack through the air inlet 150 , a proper foaming of the product will be also achieved.
- the pack of the invention can be configured as a sachet, for example, by flexible films or sheets folded to conform a container 20 .
- Other configurations are also possible, for example configuring the container as a capsule, as a pod or the like.
- the insert 10 will be a part comprising the fluid inlet 110 , though other configurations are also possible where the fluid inlet 110 is for example directly made by piercing the material configuring the walls of the container 20 (being the container a pouch, a capsule, a pod, or the like).
- the pack 100 of the invention will comprise two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define the inner volume of the pack or of the container 20 , where the product (typically powder) is stored and is further processed with the water jet 50 to prepare the beverage dispensed.
- the pack further comprises a beverage outlet 160 through which the beverage is delivered as a free flow.
- the container 20 configured to open in a certain pre-defined area to allow dispensing of the food or beverage prepared (typically, when the container 20 is made by flexible sheet or sheets configuring an inner volume, the sheet(s) will be able to separate from each other under a certain pressure for example, allowing the exit (dispensing) of the beverage inside.
- the insert 10 is arranged on one of the sides of the pack 100 , and it comprises the fluid inlet 110 and the air inlet 150 . It will preferably also comprise the beverage outlet 160 .
- a pack 100 according to a possible embodiment of the invention is disclosed.
- the pack is configured comprising an insert 10 and a container 20 , essentially defining a vertical plane P, the insert 10 being arranged at the lower side of the pack.
- the container 20 will comprise inside its volume a product, typically a powder, more specifically a concentrated powder, from which, by adding a liquid (typically water) through the insert 10 , as a jet of liquid, the powder will be dissolved, mixed and homogenized into a beverage.
- the beverage prepared will be dispensed either through an outlet 160 , configured as a vertical tube as shown in FIG.
- the insert 10 will not comprise the beverage outlet, as represented in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 4 shows a detail of the insert 10 arranged in a pack 100 according to the present invention, also showing a fluid inlet 110 through where a fluid (typically water) will be introduced inside the pack.
- the insert 10 will be further configured in such a way that it will be able to be accessed frontally and also from the rear side, meaning that the consumer will not have to care on the way how the pack is placed in the machine, as it will be able to be accessed on both sides, i.e., the pack is made reversible. Looking at FIGS.
- the fluid inlet 110 is made on the two sides (frontal and rear) of the insert 10 : in fact, it comprises a substantially horizontal tube going through the transversal section of the insert 10 , from one of its sides to the other, allowing it to be accessible through its two ends.
- the injecting means (not shown) will be configured also as piercing means, able to pierce the sheet over the fluid inlet 110 and after this to inject the fluid.
- the injection means will be arranged in a particular location in the beverage preparation machine so as to pierce and access the fluid inlet 110 , independently if the pack is positioned on one of its two sides, as long as it is placed substantially vertically along a plane P.
- the flexible sheet or sheets configuring the container 20 also overwrap fully the insert 10 , except for the part of it being inside and in communication with the inner volume of the container 20 . More preferably, there is one flexible sheet arranged overwrapping the whole insert 10 , configuring the inner volume of the container 20 by sealing its ends.
- the injecting and piercing means are preferably a fluid needle, called in what follows needle, such that these injecting and piercing means typically comprise an inner duct or pipe through which high pressure fluid is injected in the fluid inlet 110 .
- FIG. 5 showing a section according to A-A from FIG. 4 , it is shown that a pressurized fluid is introduced through a fluid inlet 110 in the insert 10 arranged at the lower side of the pack 100 .
- the pressurized fluid is forced to go through a nozzle 120 , having a much reduced diameter with respect to the section of the fluid inlet 110 , which makes that the fluid losses its pressure in favor of speed and so a jet of fluid 50 is created into the inner volume of the container 20 .
- the jet of fluid 50 goes into the inner volume of the container 20 through an aspiration inlet 130 , which is also communicated to the outside of the pack with an air inlet 150 .
- the air inlet 150 is connected to an aspiration inlet 130 through which the jet 50 enters the inner volume of the pack 100 , configured in such a way that air is aspirated through this air inlet 150 when the jet 50 is introduced inside the pack, by the speed of the jet coming into the inner volume of the pack.
- the air inlet 150 is connected to external means actively injecting air in the inner volume of the pack 100 , for example an air pump or the like.
- the two possible configurations would be passive air aspiration (by opening the air inlet 150 to the outside so that air is aspirated while the fluid jet 50 enters the inner volume of the container 20 ) or active air injection by actively injecting air through the inlet 150 when an active air pump is connected to this air inlet 150 .
- the air inlet 150 obturation can be regulated in order to control de quantity of air injected through the inlet 150 , typically from no (closing the air inlet 150 ) to certain foaming (regulating the entrance of air and the opening of the air inlet 150 ) up to active air pumping (maximum foaming).
- FIG. 5 also shows dimensions of the insert 10 , of its elements and their positioning within the insert and also with respect to the pack 100 , influencing the characteristics of the final beverage obtained. These dimensions are typically:
- the relative positioning of the aspiration inlet 130 with respect to the air inlet 150 (dimensions L 1 , L 2 ), together with the diameter of the air inlet 150 (D 2 ), define the level of foaming of the food or beverage prepared.
- the diameter of the nozzle 120 (same as the diameter of the jet 50 , dimension D 1 ) and/or of the aspiration inlet 130 (diameter D 3 ) define the design of the jet 50 in the inner volume of the pack.
- the fluid inlet 110 can be configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into the container 20 , preferably at about 90° with respect to the fluid supply provided into the fluid inlet by the injecting and piercing means, though any other angle would be possible and comprised within the scope of the present application.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a pack for preparing a foamed food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients. In particular, the invention relates to a pack comprising an insert through and a container where the ingredient or ingredients are stored.
- Preparing beverages by introducing a capsule containing a food or beverage ingredient, such as ground coffee or instant coffee, in a beverage dispensing machine and injecting water into the capsule is known in the state of the art: the beverage or food ingredient is typically extracted or dissolved into water to form the beverage or the desired final product, which flows out of the capsule through a suitable outlet.
- As such, different capsules have been developed in the past, these capsules being at least differentiated by the nature of the capsule body used for storing the food or the beverage ingredient. While most of the capsules are made of a rigid body or semi-rigid body, typically made through injection moulding or thermoforming, flexible types of packs can be made out of foil materials. Flexible packs have generally the advantage to semi-rigid and rigid capsules that less amount of material is used to pack the product which leads to overall less production cost, to lower life cycle impact shown in several life-cycle assessments and to advantages on the part of the user, who will need less available space for storing these packs, as they are more compact.
- It is known in the state of the art, for example as per document WO 99/05044, a flexible beverage-producing sachet comprising a beverage ingredient in a volume formed by bonding two laminates at their edges, having a base seam into which a conduit of rigid plastics is bonded. An inlet nozzle is provided at the top of the resulting sachet for introducing water that is mixed with the beverage or food ingredient inside the inner volume of the sachet, the beverage produced being then evacuated through a beverage outlet arranged at the bottom of the pack, where closing means are provided, such that the closing means are adapted to open under pressure when pressurized water is introduced into the sachet, allowing the beverage to evacuate through the beverage outlet.
- Other arrangements of flexible beverage-producing sachets are also known in the state of the art. However, in these flexible sachets, when foaming of the food or beverage product is desired, an internal free space (free of food or beverage product, known as headspace), filled with air, is needed in order to obtain a foam when water is mixed with the food or beverage ingredient inside the inner volume of the sachet. Therefore, for a good foaming of the beverage or food product delivered, it is necessary to have high volumes of sachets where only some part of them is filled with the ingredients and the rest is just filled with air. The cost of these sachets is therefore higher, they are more bulky and require more volume for storing, and also the devices to which they are connected for preparing the final products are consequently bigger and more expensive.
- It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a flexible pack having a minimized headspace volume and that is able to provide at the same time a very good quality foaming of the food or beverage product delivered.
- The present invention comes to provide a solution to the above-described need, as it will be further explained. The invention also aims at other objects and particularly at the solution of other problems as will appear in the rest of the present description.
- According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a pack for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert and a container where the ingredient or ingredients are stored: the insert comprises a fluid inlet configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the pack, and the insert further comprises an air inlet communicating with the exterior of the pack and configured for introducing air in the inner volume of the pack.
- Preferably, in the pack of the invention, the air inlet is connected to an aspiration inlet through which the jet enters the inner volume of the pack, configured in such a way that air is aspirated through the air inlet when the jet is introduced inside the pack.
- According to another embodiment of the pack of the invention, the air inlet is typically connected to an aspiration inlet through which the jet enters the inner volume of the pack: the air inlet is connectable to external means actively injecting air in the inner volume of the pack.
- Typically, the fluid inlet is configured for transforming the pressurized fluid introduced by a beverage machine into a high velocity fluid jet in the inner volume of the pack. Preferably, the fluid inlet communicates with a nozzle having a very restricted diameter with respect to the fluid inlet.
- According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pack comprises two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define the inner volume of the pack.
- The pack of the invention typically comprises a beverage outlet through which the beverage is delivered as a free flow. The beverage outlet is preferably a straight tube oriented essentially vertically at the bottom of the pack.
- In the pack of the invention, the insert is preferably arranged on one of the sides of the pack and it comprises the fluid inlet, the air inlet and the beverage outlet.
- Typically, the container is configured to open in a certain pre-defined area to allow dispensing of the food or beverage prepared.
- In the pack according to the present invention, the relative positioning of the aspiration inlet with respect to the air inlet, together with the diameter of the air inlet, typically define the level of foaming of the food or beverage prepared.
- Preferably, the diameter of the nozzle and/or of the aspiration inlet define the design of the jet in the inner volume of the pack.
- Typically, the food or beverage ingredient is a soluble food or beverage ingredient.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the container is configured as a sachet, a capsule or the like.
- Preferably, the pack of the invention is configured in such a way that the fluid inlet can be accessed frontally and/or by the rear to introduce an aqueous fluid through one or the two sides.
- In the pack of the invention, the air inlet obturation can be typically regulated in order to control the quantity of air injected.
- The pack of the invention typically presents a plane shape oriented along a plane essentially vertically oriented during beverage production and the fluid inlet orientates the jet of fluid in a direction comprised in said plane.
- According to a second aspect, the invention further relates to the use of a pack as described for preparing a food or beverage product.
- Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:
-
FIGS. 1a-b show a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to the present invention. -
FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of an insert having an air inlet, configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of an insert having an air inlet, configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to another embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 shows a detailed frontal view of an insert according toFIG. 2 or 3 , configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to the present invention. -
FIG. 5 shows a view according to section A-A of the insert ofFIG. 4 , configuring together with a container a pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products according to the present invention. - According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a
pack 100 for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients. As represented inFIGS. 1a or 1 b, the pack of the invention comprises aninsert 10 and acontainer 20. Thecontainer 20 comprises in its inner volume the food or beverage ingredient(s), typically a soluble powder that will be dissolved by a fluid introduced inside the volume of the container through theinsert 10. Typically, the fluid introduced through theinsert 10 will be a liquid, preferably water. - According to the present invention the food or beverage ingredient of the container can be comprised within the list of: soups, fruit juices, vegetable juices, bouillons, coffee, chocolate, tea, milk or creamer, smoothies, purees, coulis, creams or a combination thereof. The food or beverage ingredient can be a soluble food or beverage ingredient. Preferably the food or beverage ingredient is a soluble food or beverage ingredient selected in the list of:
-
- instant coffee powder, milk powder, cream powder, instant tea powder, cocoa powder, soup powder, fruit powder or mixture of said powders,
- a coffee concentrate, a milk concentrate, a syrup, a fruit or vegetable concentrate, a tea concentrate, a fruit or vegetable puree.
- The powders can be agglomerated or sintered. The powders or liquid concentrates can be mixed with solid pieces for example for preparing soups with solid pieces. The food or beverage ingredient can also be an infusible food or beverage ingredient like a roast and ground coffee or tea leaves. In that embodiment water extracts the infusible ingredient.
- In the present invention fluid covers any aqueous diluent that can be mixed with a soluble beverage ingredient to prepare a beverage, like water, carbonated water, milk, etc. However, according to the invention, water is the preferred fluid which will be used.
- The
insert 10 comprises afluid inlet 110 receiving a liquid, typically water, which is injected at a pressure higher than 2 bars, more preferably higher than 3 bars, preferably comprised between 2 and 10 bars, more preferably of around 7 bars. Thefluid inlet 110 is configured in such a way that the high pressure fluid injected through it by external means (not shown) is converted into ahigh velocity jet 50 in the inner volume of thecontainer 20. This is done thanks to the restriction in diameter of thefluid inlet 110, communicating with the inner volume of thecontainer 20 through anozzle 120 of a much reduced diameter, allowing the transformation of a high pressure jet into a high velocity jet. Thefluid inlet 110 is communicated with the inside volume of the container through at least onenozzle 120, having a diameter of at most 1 mm, preferably of at least 0.24 mm, preferably comprised between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, more preferably of about 0.4 mm. With such a configuration, when high pressure fluid is injected by external injecting means through thefluid inlet 110, it is conveyed internally towards thenozzle 120, from which it is converted into a high velocity jet offluid 50 injected inside thecontainer 20 when passing through the small section nozzle hole. Typically, this jet offluid 50 provided in the container has a velocity of at least 20 m/s. - Furthermore, the
insert 10 further comprises anair inlet 150 communicating with the exterior of thepack 100 and configured for introducing air in the inner volume of the pack 100 (see for exampleFIG. 5 ) in order to obtain a good foaming during the dissolution of the powder product comprised inside thecontainer 20. - The
insert 10 is preferably rigid and is made of a rigid plastic material, preferably by injection moulding. Typically, this plastic material can be selected from the following: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid. Also according to a less preferred embodiment thefitment assembly 10 can be made of a metal like aluminium or tin-plate. - The insert of the invention is structurally configured to create an
adequate water jet 50 and air into the volume of the container in order to control and stabilize foaming of the product beverage produced. Typically, the product inside the container is a soluble powder that will be dissolved by thewater jet 50. In addition, as air will be introduced inside the volume of the pack through theair inlet 150, a proper foaming of the product will be also achieved. - The pack of the invention can be configured as a sachet, for example, by flexible films or sheets folded to conform a
container 20. Other configurations are also possible, for example configuring the container as a capsule, as a pod or the like. Preferably, theinsert 10 will be a part comprising thefluid inlet 110, though other configurations are also possible where thefluid inlet 110 is for example directly made by piercing the material configuring the walls of the container 20 (being the container a pouch, a capsule, a pod, or the like). - Preferably, the
pack 100 of the invention will comprise two flexible water impermeable sheets joined to one another to define the inner volume of the pack or of thecontainer 20, where the product (typically powder) is stored and is further processed with thewater jet 50 to prepare the beverage dispensed. The pack further comprises abeverage outlet 160 through which the beverage is delivered as a free flow. There are several possibilities of providing thebeverage outlet 160 in thepack 100, one of them being a straight tube oriented essentially vertically at the bottom of the pack, provided in theinsert 10, as represented inFIG. 2 . Another possibility is that theoutlet 160 is not arranged in the insert 10 (seeFIG. 3 ) but directly in thecontainer 20, configured to open in a certain pre-defined area to allow dispensing of the food or beverage prepared (typically, when thecontainer 20 is made by flexible sheet or sheets configuring an inner volume, the sheet(s) will be able to separate from each other under a certain pressure for example, allowing the exit (dispensing) of the beverage inside. - Preferably, as represented in
FIGS. 1a and 1 b, theinsert 10 is arranged on one of the sides of thepack 100, and it comprises thefluid inlet 110 and theair inlet 150. It will preferably also comprise thebeverage outlet 160. - Referring to
FIGS. 1a and 1 b, apack 100 according to a possible embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The pack is configured comprising aninsert 10 and acontainer 20, essentially defining a vertical plane P, theinsert 10 being arranged at the lower side of the pack. Thecontainer 20 will comprise inside its volume a product, typically a powder, more specifically a concentrated powder, from which, by adding a liquid (typically water) through theinsert 10, as a jet of liquid, the powder will be dissolved, mixed and homogenized into a beverage. The beverage prepared will be dispensed either through anoutlet 160, configured as a vertical tube as shown inFIG. 2 , or through other outlet means, arranged somewhere else in the pack or for example, as previously explained, though an opening made by separation of the sheets configuring thecontainer 20, this separation happening under certain controlled pressure conditions; in any of these cases, theinsert 10 will not comprise the beverage outlet, as represented inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 4 shows a detail of theinsert 10 arranged in apack 100 according to the present invention, also showing afluid inlet 110 through where a fluid (typically water) will be introduced inside the pack. According to the invention, theinsert 10 will be further configured in such a way that it will be able to be accessed frontally and also from the rear side, meaning that the consumer will not have to care on the way how the pack is placed in the machine, as it will be able to be accessed on both sides, i.e., the pack is made reversible. Looking atFIGS. 2 and 3 , it can be seen that thefluid inlet 110 is made on the two sides (frontal and rear) of the insert 10: in fact, it comprises a substantially horizontal tube going through the transversal section of theinsert 10, from one of its sides to the other, allowing it to be accessible through its two ends. When thecontainer 20 is configured by flexible sheets also arranged covering the frontal and rear parts of theinsert 10, the injecting means (not shown) will be configured also as piercing means, able to pierce the sheet over thefluid inlet 110 and after this to inject the fluid. The injection means will be arranged in a particular location in the beverage preparation machine so as to pierce and access thefluid inlet 110, independently if the pack is positioned on one of its two sides, as long as it is placed substantially vertically along a plane P. - Preferably, in the pack of the invention, the flexible sheet or sheets configuring the
container 20 also overwrap fully theinsert 10, except for the part of it being inside and in communication with the inner volume of thecontainer 20. More preferably, there is one flexible sheet arranged overwrapping thewhole insert 10, configuring the inner volume of thecontainer 20 by sealing its ends. - Preferably, the injecting and piercing means are preferably a fluid needle, called in what follows needle, such that these injecting and piercing means typically comprise an inner duct or pipe through which high pressure fluid is injected in the
fluid inlet 110. - Referring now to
FIG. 5 , showing a section according to A-A fromFIG. 4 , it is shown that a pressurized fluid is introduced through afluid inlet 110 in theinsert 10 arranged at the lower side of thepack 100. The pressurized fluid is forced to go through anozzle 120, having a much reduced diameter with respect to the section of thefluid inlet 110, which makes that the fluid losses its pressure in favor of speed and so a jet offluid 50 is created into the inner volume of thecontainer 20. The jet offluid 50 goes into the inner volume of thecontainer 20 through anaspiration inlet 130, which is also communicated to the outside of the pack with anair inlet 150. Therefore, when the jet offluid 50 is conveyed inside the container at a high speed, air is sucked or aspirated through theopen air inlet 150, which thus adds air into the jet offluid 50. As this jet has also air incorporated, the dissolution of the product (powder) incorporates these air bubbles as well, thus providing a very good and accurate foaming. - As explained, the
air inlet 150 is connected to anaspiration inlet 130 through which thejet 50 enters the inner volume of thepack 100, configured in such a way that air is aspirated through thisair inlet 150 when thejet 50 is introduced inside the pack, by the speed of the jet coming into the inner volume of the pack. Another possibility is that theair inlet 150 is connected to external means actively injecting air in the inner volume of thepack 100, for example an air pump or the like. - Typically, the two possible configurations would be passive air aspiration (by opening the
air inlet 150 to the outside so that air is aspirated while thefluid jet 50 enters the inner volume of the container 20) or active air injection by actively injecting air through theinlet 150 when an active air pump is connected to thisair inlet 150. - Further, the
air inlet 150 obturation can be regulated in order to control de quantity of air injected through theinlet 150, typically from no (closing the air inlet 150) to certain foaming (regulating the entrance of air and the opening of the air inlet 150) up to active air pumping (maximum foaming). -
FIG. 5 also shows dimensions of theinsert 10, of its elements and their positioning within the insert and also with respect to thepack 100, influencing the characteristics of the final beverage obtained. These dimensions are typically: -
- Diameter D1: it is the diameter of the
fluid jet 50 - Diameter D2: it is the diameter of the
air inlet 150 - Diameter D3: it is the diameter of the
aspiration inlet 130 - L1: it is the relative positioning of the
air inlet 150 with respect to thefluid jet 50 and to theaspiration inlet 130 - L2: it is the height of the
aspiration inlet 130, measured with respect to theair inlet 150
- Diameter D1: it is the diameter of the
- Typical dimensions of the above-referred parameters could be the following (these dimensions should just be taken as exemplary and based on experiences):
-
- D1: 0.3-0.6 mm
- D2: 0.5-1.0 mm
- D3: 1.0-2.0 mm
- L1: 3.0 mm
- L2: 2.0-7.0 mm
- Typically, the relative positioning of the
aspiration inlet 130 with respect to the air inlet 150 (dimensions L1, L2), together with the diameter of the air inlet 150 (D2), define the level of foaming of the food or beverage prepared. On the other hand, the diameter of the nozzle 120 (same as the diameter of thejet 50, dimension D1) and/or of the aspiration inlet 130 (diameter D3) define the design of thejet 50 in the inner volume of the pack. - According to the invention, the
fluid inlet 110 can be configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into thecontainer 20, preferably at about 90° with respect to the fluid supply provided into the fluid inlet by the injecting and piercing means, though any other angle would be possible and comprised within the scope of the present application. - Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims (18)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
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EP17170909 | 2017-05-12 | ||
EP17170909.0 | 2017-05-12 | ||
PCT/EP2018/061096 WO2018206347A1 (en) | 2017-05-12 | 2018-05-02 | Pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products |
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US20210147139A1 true US20210147139A1 (en) | 2021-05-20 |
Family
ID=58707422
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US16/611,519 Abandoned US20210147139A1 (en) | 2017-05-12 | 2018-05-02 | Pack for preparing foamed food or beverage products |
Country Status (7)
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US (1) | US20210147139A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3621895B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP7217235B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN110573438A (en) |
AR (1) | AR111864A1 (en) |
TW (1) | TWI780139B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018206347A1 (en) |
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GB2591447A (en) * | 2019-12-24 | 2021-08-04 | Douwe Egberts Bv | Packaging |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160001970A1 (en) * | 2013-02-18 | 2016-01-07 | Nestec S.A. | Packs for Preparing Beverages |
Family Cites Families (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB9715922D0 (en) * | 1997-07-28 | 1997-10-01 | Mars Uk Ltd | Beverage-producing packages |
GB2374856B (en) * | 2001-04-27 | 2004-11-03 | Mars Uk Ltd | Production of edible foams |
EP2241229B8 (en) * | 2001-04-27 | 2012-07-25 | Mars, Incorporated | Beverage apparatus for making foamed drinks |
NL1020834C2 (en) * | 2002-06-12 | 2003-12-15 | Sara Lee De Nv | Device and method for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer. |
NL1032082C2 (en) * | 2006-04-19 | 2007-10-22 | Sara Lee De Nv | System for preparing a drink suitable for consumption, as well as an exchangeable holder for such a system. |
GB2454656A (en) * | 2007-11-09 | 2009-05-20 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | A beverage cartridge |
GB2482032B (en) * | 2010-07-16 | 2013-04-10 | Kraft Foods R & D Inc | Coffee products and related processes |
GB201110848D0 (en) * | 2011-06-24 | 2011-08-10 | Mars Inc | Beverage preparation apparatus and method and beverage capsules for use therein |
US9120108B2 (en) * | 2012-07-03 | 2015-09-01 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Foam generating dispenser |
US9371176B2 (en) * | 2012-11-29 | 2016-06-21 | Nestec S. A. | Capsule for preparing a beverage or nutritional product |
KR20150138379A (en) * | 2013-04-03 | 2015-12-09 | 코닌클리케 도우베 에그베르츠 비.브이. | Coffee pad with a relatively large outlet opening for use in a coffee machine |
CA2936779A1 (en) * | 2014-03-07 | 2015-09-11 | Nestec S.A. | Packs and machine for preparing beverages |
JP2017529888A (en) * | 2014-07-30 | 2017-10-12 | ネステク ソシエテ アノニム | Packs and machines for preparing beverages |
US20170217648A1 (en) * | 2014-08-06 | 2017-08-03 | Nestec S.A. | Spout assembly for food or beverage containers |
WO2016023724A1 (en) * | 2014-08-14 | 2016-02-18 | Nestec S.A. | Pack for preparing foods or beverages |
AU2017209548A1 (en) * | 2016-01-18 | 2018-05-24 | Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. | Pack for preparing food or beverage products |
-
2018
- 2018-03-31 TW TW107111429A patent/TWI780139B/en active
- 2018-05-02 US US16/611,519 patent/US20210147139A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2018-05-02 EP EP18719589.6A patent/EP3621895B1/en active Active
- 2018-05-02 CN CN201880028290.7A patent/CN110573438A/en active Pending
- 2018-05-02 JP JP2019559063A patent/JP7217235B2/en active Active
- 2018-05-02 WO PCT/EP2018/061096 patent/WO2018206347A1/en active Application Filing
- 2018-05-11 AR ARP180101257A patent/AR111864A1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160001970A1 (en) * | 2013-02-18 | 2016-01-07 | Nestec S.A. | Packs for Preparing Beverages |
Also Published As
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TWI780139B (en) | 2022-10-11 |
CN110573438A (en) | 2019-12-13 |
AR111864A1 (en) | 2019-08-28 |
WO2018206347A1 (en) | 2018-11-15 |
EP3621895B1 (en) | 2022-11-23 |
EP3621895A1 (en) | 2020-03-18 |
TW201900517A (en) | 2019-01-01 |
JP7217235B2 (en) | 2023-02-02 |
JP2020519532A (en) | 2020-07-02 |
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