Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.

Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.v.

Kraft Food R & D, Inc.

Andrew Michael Halliday

Satwinder Panesar

Colin Darrel Ballard

Colin Ballard

Steve Carter

Maria Gomez

Geoff Rendle

Steven Carter

Nicholas Andrew Hansen

John Macmahon

Henry Martin

Adam Martyn Lloyd

Simon Jelley

Esak Shabudin

Stuart Banister

Ralf Kamerbeek

David Smith

John Henri Flamand

Erik Pieter Van Gaasbeek

Hielke Dijkstra

Arend Hendrik Groothornte

Armin Sjoerd Eijsackers

Marc Henrikus Joseph Ottenschot

Andrew Chapman

Nick Andrew Hansen

Alistair J MacMahon

Mark Norton

Roger Geoffrey Tanner

Simon Carr

Egidijus Bartkus

Geoff York

Paul Sutton

Satwinder Singh Panesar

Jan Anders Hagermarck

Nick Hensen

Howard S Whitney

Simon Philip Jelley

John Melrose

Jan Anders Haegermarck

Alistair John Macmahon

Adam Lloyd

Satwinder Singh Kraft Foods Uk Ltd Panesar

A beverage producing system is provided comprising a capsule containing beverage ingredients and a beverage preparation machine. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a lid; the cup-shaped body having a base and a side wall and the lid being sealed to the cup-shaped body. Prior to insertion, the side wall comprises: A cup-shaped body, a capsule and a method are also disclosed.

Beverage preparation system, a capsule and a method for forming a beverage

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage. The capsule comprises an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end. The sealing member is integral with the outwardly extending flange and comprises at least one projection projecting from the outwardly extending flange. The projection comprising a projection top and is configured such that its projection top exerts a radial force on the free contact end of the annular element if the capsule is positioned in the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device and the enclosing member is closed using a closing member of the beverage preparation device.

Capsule, a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device

A method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet () into a beverage preparation machine (); b) measuring a characteristic associated with the thickness of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet () to identify the beverage ingredient tablet (); c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine () based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine () to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet () with an aqueous fluid.

Method of dispensing a beverage, a beverage preparation machine, and a system

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage. The capsule comprises an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end which may be provided with a plurality of radially extending open grooves. The sealing member is integral with the outwardly extending flange and comprises at least one projection projecting from the outwardly extending flange. The projection comprising a projection top and is configured such that its projection top exerts a radial force on the free contact end of the annular element if the capsule is positioned in the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device and the enclosing member is closed by means of a closing member of the beverage preparation device.

A method of forming a cup-shaped body for a beverage capsule comprising the steps of: a) in a first stage drawing a sheet of material into a cup-shaped body preform; and b) in a second stage transforming the cup-shaped body preform into the cup-shaped body; wherein after the first stage the cup-shaped body preform comprises a base and a preformed side wall which extends from the base to a rim; wherein the preformed side wall comprises: an outwardly-extending step proximate the rim; a primary side wall section extending between the base and the outwardly-extending step; and a secondary side wall section extending between the outwardly-extending step and the rim; wherein in the second stage the preformed side wall is deformed such that the cup-shaped body comprises the base and a side wall which extends from the base to the rim; wherein the side wall comprises: an annular trough; a first side wall section extending between the base and the annular trough; and a second side wall section extending between the annular trough and the rim.

Method of forming a cup-shaped body for a beverage capsule

The present invention provides a method of dispensing a beverage comprising: a) inserting a beverage ingredient tablet () into a beverage preparation machine (); b) measuring a surface finish of at least a portion of the beverage ingredient tablet () to identify the beverage ingredient tablet; c) configuring one or more dispense parameters of the beverage preparation machine () based on the identification of the beverage ingredient tablet (); and d) operating the beverage preparation machine () to dispense a beverage by contacting the beverage ingredient tablet () with an aqueous fluid.

A beverage producing system is provided comprising a capsule containing beverage ingredients and a beverage preparation machine. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a lid; the cup-shaped body having a base and a side wall and the lid being sealed to the cup-shaped body. The side wall is dimensioned to be contacted by an enclosing member of the beverage preparation machine on closure of the enclosing member to buckle the side wall to form a valley zone bridging the enclosing member. The side wall is adapted such that said valley zone forms at least one sealing interface between the enclosing member and the side wall. A capsule and a method are also disclosed.

A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients.

Cartridge and method for the preparation of beverages

A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages from beverage cartridges containing one or more beverage ingredients, the beverage preparation machine comprising means for receiving, in use, a beverage cartridge and means for passing water through the beverage cartridge to thereby produce a beverage, the beverage preparation machine further comprising a code reader for interpreting a code provided on or in the beverage cartridge.

Machine for the preparation of beverages

A beverage producing system is provided comprising a capsule containing beverage ingredients and a beverage preparation machine. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a lid; the cup-shaped body having a base and a side wall and the lid being sealed to the cup-shaped body. Prior to insertion, the side wall comprises: &#x2014; an annular trough being dimensioned to receive an enclosing member of the beverage preparation machine on movement of the enclosing member, into a closed position; &#x2014; a first side wall section extending between the base and the annular trough; and &#x2014; a second side wall section extending between the annular trough and a rim of the capsule. A capsule and a method are also disclosed.

A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients includes a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine and a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine. The valve enables preparation of beverages at a range of pressures by having at least an open position and at least one restricted flow position, and a controller for selecting an initial valve position and controlling the subsequent operation of the valve according to the determination of the type of beverage to be prepared by the cartridge recognition device.

System of beverage preparation machine with beverage cartridge

A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a movable first part and a fixed second part, the first part being movable relative to the second part between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the first part being positioned to enable loading of a cartridge into the delivery head, in the closed position the first part and second part being positioned to hold said cartridge in a dispensing position, the delivery head further comprising an inlet piercer and an outlet piercer, the inlet piercer and the outlet piercer being orientated substantially in the same direction and being pivotable relative to the fixed second part between a retracted position and a piercing position.

Beverage preparation machines

A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

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Chipping Norton, United Kingdom

Andrew Michael Halliday