Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.

Owen Mumford Limited

Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.v.

Other

Nick Andrew Hansen

Jeremy M Marshall

Andrew Charles Bentley

Mark Richard Thomas Norton

Andrew Michael Halliday

Simon Carr

Egidijus Bartkus

Geoff York

Mark Eaton

Ayse Tulay Massey

Mark Norton

Geoffrey York

Elizabeth Jane Hinckley

Ian Denis Fisk

Lena Ripley

Matthew Cooper

Elizabeth Hinckley

Jo-Ann Clark

Kate Avrial Yauk

Bottle with handle

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

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 cartridge for preparation of a beverage comprising: a closed container defining a container volume; a filter to divide the container volume into an ingredient chamber volume and a filtrate volume; a beverage medium located in the ingredient chamber volume; and a guard element located in the filtrate volume; wherein the guard element is separately-formed from the closed container and located within the filtrate volume to define an outlet zone, the guard element being interposed between the filter and the outlet zone; wherein the guard element is configured to prevent encroachment of the filter into the outlet zone such that on piercing of a piercing surface of the cartridge by a piercing element of a beverage preparation apparatus the piercing element is enabled to be placed in fluid communication with the outlet zone without the piercing element contacting the guard element or filter. Associated methods and systems are also disclosed.

Cartridges, systems and methods for preparation of beverages

A capsule () for preparation of a beverage from a beverage ingredient (). The capsule comprising a first section () and a second section () which together form a beverage ingredient compartment of the capsule in which is received a beverage ingredient. The first section comprising a pre-formed inlet () for entry of aqueous medium into the capsule and the second section comprising a pre-formed outlet () for beverage formed, in use, from the beverage ingredient and the aqueous medium. Wherein the capsule is compressible when the capsule is inserted into the receptacle of a beverage preparation machine by the first section of the capsule being engaged by an inlet piercer () of the beverage preparation machine so as to cause movement of the first section of the capsule towards the second section of the capsule without piercing of the first or second sections.

Capsule and a system for, and a method of, preparing a beverage

The invention provides a beverage preparation machine comprising a brew head for receiving beverage cartridges of various heights and means for passing an aqueous medium through said beverage cartridges to form a beverage from one or more beverage ingredients contained in said cartridges. The brew head comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being movable relative to one another from an open position in which said beverage cartridges can be received in the brew head and a closed position in which said beverage cartridge can be fixedly retained in a brew head space defined between the first and second parts. Wherein in use, beverage cartridges of various heights may be clamped in the brew head space between a distal end of a clamping member and the second part.

Cartridge, a machine, a system and a method for the preparation of beverages

A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients is described. The beverage preparation machine is configured for controlling the volume of air resident in at least a part of a delivery system of the machine to produce predetermined characteristics in a prepared beverage.

Beverage preparation machines

Method of preparing beverages using a beverage preparation machines and in particular a beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients. The method includes controlling the volume of air resident in at least a part of a delivery system of the machine to produce predetermined characteristics in a prepared beverage.

Beverage cartridge

The present invention relates to improvements in the preparation of beverages and, in particular, to an improved cartridge for preparing beverages in brewing machines. The cartridges can also be used for preparing liquid food products. The cartridge comprises a continuous elongate tubular chamber containing the at least one ingredient providing a fluid flow path linking an inlet for the introduction of the liquid at one end of the chamber to an outlet for discharge of the beverage or food product at an opposite end of the chamber. The chamber has an internal width to length ratio in the range of 1:4 to 1:200.

Preparation of beverages and liquid food products

This disclosure relates to improvements in beverage/food product preparation systems and in particular to beverage/food product preparation systems having machines of the type which use pre-packaged cartridges containing beverage or food ingredients. The cartridge () contains one or more beverage or food ingredients for use in a machine for preparing a beverage or food product from said ingredients. The cartridge () includes a base (), an outlet aperture () in the base (), and a collar () extending from the cartridge base () around the outlet aperture (). The cartridge () is inserted into a holding receptacle () of a machine the collar () interacts with an element () of the machine and the collar () is configured to determine the pressure in the cartridge () during the preparation process.

Machine, system using said machine, and method for preparing a beverage or food

A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients comprises 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.

Growing community of inventors

Banbury, United Kingdom

Nick Andrew Hansen