WO2021059229A4

WO2021059229A4 - Insertable dosing/release system for supplemental ingredient for capsule comprising a main precursor and a supplemental ingredient and a method for production of said insertable dosing/release system and said capsule, and method for preparing a beverage

Info

Publication number: WO2021059229A4
Application number: PCT/IB2020/058999
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Achtnich
Original assignee: Famatek Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-09-28
Filing date: 2020-09-25
Publication date: 2021-05-20
Also published as: WO2020039411A4; WO2020039411A2; EP4034472A1; WO2020039411A3; WO2021059229A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a insertable dosing/release system integrated in a container and a method for food and beverage preparation, said container being designed for connection to a pressurized ingredient source, such as a pressurized water source, the pressurized ingredient source provided by a food or beverage preparation machine, to be mixed with at least one precursor ingredient, such as coffee powder, contained in the container for preparing said food or beverage. The container of the present invention further contains inside the container an insertable dosing/release system for food additives, such as vitamins and the pressurized ingredient source to be mixed further with the food additives. Further aspects of the invention are an apparatus using the container and a method for preparing a beverage, which combines precursor ingredient(s), such as ground coffee, with food additive(s), such as vitamins, and a process line station, which inserts the insertable dosing/release system into the container.

Claims

40 AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 26 March 2021 (26.03.2021)

1. A capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) for to prepare a beverage containing a dosing/release system (420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 920, 1020) situated in the capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500), the capsule container having at least one compartment (270, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 970, 1070, 1370, 1470, 1570), the compartment having a compartment volume, the compartment volume is surrounded by enclosing one or more walls, containing at least one precursor ingredient (402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1302, 1402, 1502) within the at least one compartment (270, 470, 570, 670, 770, 870 970, 1070, 1370,1470, 1570), the at least one precursor ingredient is coffee, the compartment comprising an injection wall for coupling to a beverage preparation machine (100) having at least one pressurized source of a mixing ingredient, the dosing/release system comprising a supplemental ingredient (302, 406, 506, 606, 706,806, 906, 1006, 1120, 1220, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1620); whereby a beverage product is prepared within said capsule container while the mixing ingredient traverses the capsule container, whereby the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are dosed and released into the beverage product while the mixing ingredient traverses the capsule container; characterized in that the at least one supplemental ingredient comprises at least one or more vitamin(s).

2. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing/release system is a single mechanically stable part formed of the supplemental ingredient(s), optionally allowing to establish a pre-defined flow in the capsule.

3. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 2, wherein the single mechanically stable part is formed by means of the list of means consisting of: compaction, agglomeration, pelletizing, tableting, encapsulation, co-encapsulation.

4. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing/release system is a cartridge and the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are situated inside the cartridge.

5. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 4, wherein the cartridge is made of two or more parts.

6. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing/release system is a pad and the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are situated inside the pad.

7. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 1 , wherein the dosing/release system is a cushion and the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are situated inside the cushion.

8. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300,

1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) having a particle size in a range of diameter of 10pm to 1000pm, or in a more preferred range of 20pm to 500pm, or even more preferred range of 50pm to 100pm.

9. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300,

1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are prepared as crystals, having a particle size in a range of diameter of 10pm to 1000pm, or in a more preferred range of 20pm to 500pm, or even more preferred range of 50pm to 100pm.

10. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300,

1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are encapsulated by an encapsulation (304), the encapsulation being of a gel-like material or alginate, ethyl cellulose, Shellac, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, modified starch, maltodextrin, chitosan, carnauba wax, arabic rubber or a combination thereof.

11. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 10, wherein the encapsulation (304) having a particle size in a range of diameter of 10pm to 500pm, or more preferred 20pm to 200pm, or even more preferred 50pm to 100pm.

12. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the encapsulation (304) being formed as a micro pearl.

13. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the encapsulation (304) being formed as a microcapsule.

14. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are agglomerated with other particles, the other particles being based on a specific material, the specific material is selected from the list of specific materials consisting of a gel-like material or alginate, ethyl cellulose, Shellac, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, modified starch, maltodextrin, chitosan, carnauba wax, arabic rubber sugar-like substances or a combination thereof.

15. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are coated on particles of the main precursor ingredient.

16. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are co-encapsulated with particles of the main precursor ingredient.

17. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are agglomerated by pressing main precursor ingredient and supplemental ingredient(s) together into pills, pellets or tablet format.

18. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) of any of the preceding claims 1 to 17, wherein the supplemental ingredient further comprises one or more mineral(s).

19. The capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) of claim 18, wherein the at least one supplemental ingredient comprising vitamin(s) and/or mineral(s) further comprises at least a supplemental ingredient selected from the list of supplemental ingredients comprising: flavors, medicinal products, proteins, enzymes, any bio active substance, pieces of fruits, pieces of vegetables, pieces of spices, herbal extracts, foamer, functional foods, taste enhancers, taste maskers, antioxidants, dried milk, honey, and any mixture of these. 43

20. Use of the capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) of any of the above claims for preparing a beverage using a system (100).

21. A method for preparing a beverage from the capsule container (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 19, comprising the steps of: a. inserting said container in a beverage machine (100) having a pressurized source of mixing ingredient, b. establishing a fluid connection between said capsule container and said source, c. introducing said mixing ingredient within said capsule container, and mixing said mixing ingredient with the at least two ingredients to create a beverage product, d. delivering said beverage product to a consumer through a delivery wall of said capsule container, characterized in that the supplemental ingredient(s) is/are dosed and/or released from the dosing/release system such that the supplemental ingredient(s) keep their biological function intact inside the beverage after being released and/or dosed into the beverage.

22. The method for preparing a beverage according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one supplemental ingredient is dissolved substantially instantly when getting in contact with the mixing ingredient.

23. The method for preparing a beverage according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one supplemental ingredient is flushed out of the capsule container by the mixing ingredient into the beverage, such that the at least one supplemental ingredient is suspended in the beverage, and substantially dissolved between 5 seconds and 5 minutes after the first contact with the mixing ingredient, preferably between 15 seconds and 2 minutes after the first contact with the mixing ingredient.

24. The method for preparing a beverage according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one supplemental ingredient is flushed out of the capsule container by the mixing ingredient into the beverage, such that the at least one supplemental ingredient is suspended in the beverage and thereby not dissolved. 44

25. A beverage prepared according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein directly after preparation of the beverage, the vitamins are suspended in the beverage in the form of discrete supplemental components.

26. A method for production of one of the capsule containers (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) of the preceding claims 1 to 19, wherein the capsule container is filled by means of a sequential filling station (1800), the sequential filling station putting the dosing/release system together with the main precursor ingredient into the container, whereas the filling sequence may be of any order.

27. The method for production of one of the capsule containers (132, 250, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1500) of the preceding claims 1 to 19, comprising the steps of:

(i) preparing of supplemental ingredient(s) as powder and/or crystals and/or micro-pearls and/or micro-capsules and/or pills/pellets/tablets and/or agglomerates and/or as coat of main precursor ingredient;

(ii) filling or forming supplemental ingredient(s) into a dosing/release system;

(iii) filling main precursor ingredient into the capsule container and placing the dosing/release system into the capsule container;

(iv) sealing the container with the state of the art means for closing the beverage capsule and preserving the main precursor ingredient and the supplemental ingredient(s).

28. The method of production according to claim 27, wherein step (iii) is executed by a pick and place system (1700).

29. The method of production according to claim 27, wherein step (iii) is executed by a tape and reel system.

30. A method for production according to claim 27, wherein step (iii) comprises two sub-steps:

(i) filling the supplemental ingredient(s) into a receptacle part (1104, 1204) of a two-part or multi-part compartment (1100, 1200);

(ii) filling main precursor ingredient into the capsule container before, while, or after placing the two-part or multi-part compartment (1100, 1200), with or without a receptacle part (1104, 1204,1630) into the container, the 45 location of the two-part or multi-part compartment (1100, 1200) may be everywhere inside the container’s compartment.

31. The method of production according to claim 27, wherein the dosing/release system is taken from a stock of pre-produced dosing/release systems before inserting into the capsule container.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 PCT

Patentability

Applicant disagrees that Document D1 discloses the preamble according to claim 1, i.e. D1 does not disclose a dosing/release system situated in a capsule container. Furthermore, no one of the cited documents teaches or suggests to add at least one supplemental ingredient that comprises at least one or more vitamin(s) to such a dosing/release system situated in a capsule container as claimed in the characterizing part of claim 1. Thus, Examiner’s arguments appear to be unjustified. Hence, also claim 20 appears to be new and inventive.

Applicant emphasizes that Document D7 does not directly disclose a dosing/release system and in no way teaches or suggests to add at least one supplemental ingredient that comprises at least one or more vitamin(s) to such a dosing/release system situated in a capsule container.

With regard to Document D8, Applicant emphasizes that the capsule disclosed in that document is not in the technical field of beverage preparation, hence the invention disclosed in that document concerns a field of technic far from the field of technic of the instant invention and, thus, the person skilled in the art would not consider D8. Furthermore, the invention according to D8 does not disclose a dosing/release system situated in a capsule container, rather a child-resistant capsule for application of pharmaceutical active ingredients.

Considering the above arguments concerning claim 1 (which encompasses claims 2 to 19, and as well 20), also claim 21 appears to be new and inventive.

Considering the above arguments concerning claim 21 (which encompasses claims 22 to 24), also claim 25 appears to be new and inventive.

Considering the above arguments concerning claim 1 (which encompasses claims 2 to 19, and as well 20), also claims 26 to 31 appear to be new and inventive.

According to the above arguments, the Applicant has shown that independent claims 1, 20, 21 and 26 appear to be new and inventive, hence, also the dependent claims appear to be new and inventive. In particular, no one of the cited documents does disclose a semi cartridge in any form.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the current claims meet the patentability conditions of the PCT.

Clarity

In order to meet the clarity requirements, Applicant amends claim 1 such that the system of claim 1 is identified as a capsule containing a dosing/release system. Hence, by means of the present amendment, the clarity issues should be resolved. Dependent claims 2 to 21, 26 and 27 are amended accordingly.

Claim 25 is amended such that the subject matter claimed is further defined by technical features.