Conopco, Inc.

Unilever Plc

Unilever, N.v.

Unilever Plc, a Company Registered in England and Wales Under Company No. 41424 of

Daniel Thomas Toon

Michael Paton

David Murray Cross

Alistair David Smith

Ahmad Bittar

Terence John Wilby

Cristian Simion Popa

Daniel Mark Walter

A capsule for use in a brewing device is provided, comprising a body part, which defines a cavity and which has a flange, a lid which is attached to the flange and tea material enclosed within the capsule, characterized in that the shape of the flange is defined by two intersecting circular arcs when viewed from above. A brewing device which comprises a capsule holder for receiving the capsule is also provided, the capsule holder comprising a sidewall which is circular when viewed from above and which has an upper rim, a shelf on at least part of the inside of the sidewall, a filter and an openable and closable passage on the opposite side of the filter from the upper rim. A method of preparing a tea-based beverage in the brewing device using the capsule is also provided.

Capsule, method and device for brewing a beverage

A method of preparing a tea beverage in a capsule-based brewing device is provided, the device comprising an infusion chamber (); a capsule holder () sized and shaped so as to receive a capsule (); a filter (); an openable and closable passage () which terminates in an orifice (); a vessel () located beneath the orifice () and having a spout (); the method comprising the steps of: introducing liquid and infusible beverage material from the capsule () into the infusion chamber () so as to brew the beverage; and then after brewing has taken place for a sufficient time, opening the passage () to allow the beverage to flow from the infusion chamber () through the filter (), along the passage (), through the orifice (), into the vessel () and out from the spout ().

Method and device for brewing a beverage

The invention provides a beverage production machine having an apparatus for recognizing a package. The apparatus comprises two resonant tank circuits, each comprising a coil and a capacitor; two electronic circuits for detecting changes in coil impedance; a means for generating a signal which is indicative of the changes; and means for controlling the beverage production machine according to the signal. The machine also comprises a holder for supporting the package. The package for use in the machine comprises a base unit having a compartment which contains tea material, and a rim with a projecting lip; conductive material associated with the package having two edge sections situated on opposite sides of the compartment; and a lid attached to the base unit around the rim, the central portion of the lid comprising at least one perforated line. The invention also provides a method of recognizing the package.

Package recognition system

Capsule

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Epping, United Kingdom

Daniel Thomas Toon