Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.

Steve Carter

Andrew Michael Halliday

Satwinder Panesar

Alistair J MacMahon

Satwinder Singh Panesar

Nick Hensen

Jan Anders Hagermarck

An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine. The insert comprises, or is adapted to contain in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients in a brewing volume. A lower surface of the insert comprises an inlet and an outlet arranged to communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine when the insert is inserted into the machine such that, in use, water from the inlet of the brew head passes upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume and such that beverage produced from the water and the quantity of beverage ingredients passes downwardly through the outlet of the insert to flow out of the outlet of the brew head. The lower surface of the insert further comprises a RFID or barcode which, in use, is readable by a RFID or barcode reader of the beverage preparation machine for controlling operation of the beverage preparation machine, wherein the barcode or RFID is located on the lower surface of the insert such that a line joining the outlet of the insert to a center of the barcode or RFID and a line joining the outlet of the insert to the inlet of the insert separated by a minimum angular separation of greater than 70 degrees.

Insert, a machine and a system for the preparation of beverages

A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, said cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, and an outlet for a beverage produced from said one or more beverage ingredients, wherein said cartridge comprises an outer member, an inner member inserted in the outer member and means for producing a jet of the beverage, wherein said means for producing the jet of the beverage comprises an aperture in a beverage flow path linking the inlet to the outlet, characterized in that the aperture is delimited by an interface between the inner member and the outer member.

Cartridge for the preparation of beverages

A cartridge (containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge defining a storage chamber containing the one or more beverage ingredients and a manifold chamber, the cartridge comprising an opening through which the one or more beverage ingredients can be filled into the storage chamber, the opening being closed by a lid having a first portion overlying the manifold chamber and a second portion overlying the storage chamber, wherein the first portion of the lid is pierceable in use to accommodate an inflow of an aqueous medium into the manifold chamber and the lid is pierceable in use to accommodate an outflow of beverage formed from interaction of the aqueous medium and the one or more beverage ingredients in the storage chamber.

A beverage preparation machine for preparing a beverage from a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients comprising a first piercing element for forming an inlet, in use, in a cartridge received in the beverage preparation machine and a second piercing element for forming an outlet, in use, in said cartridge, characterised in that the first and second piercing elements are formed as a single removable unit.

Machine for the preparation of beverages

A 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 cartridge comprises an outer member and an inner member conjoined on assembly with the outer member, characterized by the inner member comprising a discharge spout defining the outlet of the cartridge.

A closure mechanism for a beverage preparation machine comprising a fixed lower part and an upper part rotatable relative to the lower part, the upper part being moveable from an open position, in which the upper part is disengaged from the lower part, and a closed position, in which the upper part is engaged with the lower part, the closure mechanism further comprising a clamping lever operable to retain the upper part in the closed position, wherein the clamping lever comprises a first member being pivotably connected at a first pivot to the upper part and a second member having a first end pivotable about a second pivot, an end of the first member and a second end of the second member being pivotably connected together at a third pivot such that the clamping lever has first and second positions of stability, wherein on operation of the clamping lever to move the upper part from the open position to the closed position the clamping lever moves from the first to the second position of stability.

A closure mechanism for a beverage preparation machine comprising a lower part and an upper part, the upper part and lower part being movable relative to one another from an open position in which a beverage cartridge can be received in the closure mechanism and a closed position in which the beverage cartridge is fixedly retained between the upper part and lower part, wherein in the closed position the closure mechanism contacts a top surface and a bottom surface of the beverage cartridge at or near a centre of the beverage cartridge to exert a compressive force of greater than 50N.

A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising a compartment containing the one or more beverage ingredients, the compartment comprising a plurality of inlet apertures for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the compartment and a plurality of outlet apertures for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein at least a proportion of the inlet apertures are out of alignment with the outlet apertures such that at least a proportion of the aqueous medium entering the compartment through the inlet apertures is forced to circulate within the compartment before exiting the compartment through the outlet apertures, characterised in that the inlet apertures are arranged around the periphery of the compartment.

A closure mechanism for a beverage preparation machine comprising a fixed lower part, an upper part rotatable relative to the lower part and a cartridge holder interposed between the lower part and the upper part and being rotatable relative to the lower part and the upper part, wherein the lower part comprises inlet piercing means and outlet piercing means for forming, respectively, an inlet and an outlet, in use, in a cartridge received in the cartridge holder, wherein rotation of the upper part towards the lower part causes the upper part to engage the cartridge holder and to move the cartridge holder into contact with the lower part and at the same time to cause, in use, the inlet piercing means and the outlet piercing means to pierce a cartridge received in the cartridge holder.

Growing community of inventors

London, United Kingdom

Steve Carter