PACKAGE FOR STORING INDIVIDUAL PORTION OF BEVERAGE PRECURSOR FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE THEREFROM, STRIP OF SUCH PACKAGES, AND SYSTEM COMPRISING A BEVERAGE PREPARATION APPARATUS AND AT LEAST SUCH A PACKAGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a package (11) containing one portion of beverage precursor (2) for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus (100). The package comprises a pair of packaging sheets (12, 13) sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor (2) individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion (2). In the package, the sheets (12, 13) are forming a cavity (14, 15) covering the beverage precursor portion (2) on each side, wherein the cavity (14, 15) is provided with a ridge (18, 19) on at least one of the sheets (12, 13), the ridge (18, 19) being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part (31, 41) of the beverage preparation apparatus (100). The invention also relates to a package strip (10) comprising a plurality of packages (11) and to a system comprising a beverage preparation invention apparatus (100) and at least one package strip (10), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a dispensing device (110) which comprises a protrusion part (31,41) which cooperates with the ridge (18, 19) of one package (11).

Claims

1. Package containing one portion of beverage precursor for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus, the package comprising a pair of packaging sheets sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion, the sheets forming a cavity covering the beverage precursor portion on each side, wherein the cavity is provided with a ridge on at least one of the sheets, the ridge being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part of the beverage preparation apparatus.

2. Package according to claim 1, wherein the ridge is a crest and has a crescent shape.

3. Package according to claim 1, wherein the ridge extends along a median plane of the package, on top of the cavity.

4. Package according to claim 1, wherein the ridge is a longitudinal ridge configured to extend along a dispensing direction of the package into a dispensing device of the apparatus.

5. Package according to claim 1, wherein the ridge is a transverse ridge configured to extend across a dispensing direction of the package into a dispensing device of the apparatus.

6. Package strip comprising a plurality of packages containing one portion of beverage precursor for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus, the package comprising a pair of packaging sheets sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion, the sheets forming a cavity covering the beverage precursor portion on each side, wherein the cavity is provided with a ridge on at least one of the sheets, the ridge being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part of the beverage preparation apparatus.

7. System comprising a beverage preparation apparatus and at least one package strip comprising a plurality of packages containing one portion of beverage precursor for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus, the package comprising a pair of packaging sheets sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion, the sheets forming a cavity covering the beverage precursor portion on each side, wherein the cavity is provided with a ridge on at least one of the sheets, the ridge being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part of the beverage preparation apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a dispensing device which comprises a protrusion part which cooperates with the ridge of one package.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion part comprises a cam, and one package of the strip comprises at least one longitudinal ridge, the cam comprising a nose and when the nose is in contact with the longitudinal ridge of one cavity, the nose squeezes the cavity and pushes the beverage precursor portion outside of the package.

9. System according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion part comprises a finger, and one package of the strip comprises at least one transverse ridge, and once the package has been cut open the transverse ridge of bumps into the finger which enhances the opening of the package.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set out below with reference to the drawings in which:

[0081] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strip of packages according to a first example embodiment of the invention;

[0082] FIG. 2 is a side view of the package strip of FIG. 1 cooperating with a protrusion part of a dispensing device of a beverage preparation apparatus according to a first example embodiment of the invention;

[0083] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a strip of packages according to a second example embodiment of the invention;

[0084] FIG. 4 is a side view of the package strip of FIG. 3 cooperating with a protrusion part of a dispensing device of a beverage preparation apparatus according to a second example embodiment of the invention; and

[0085] FIG. 5 show a perspective view of beverage preparation apparatus comprising the protrusion part according to the first example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0086] According to FIG. 1, a package strip 10 according to a first example embodiment of invention is shown in closed or sealed configuration, i.e. before beverage precursor portions 2 (visible in FIG. 2) are extracted for preparation of a beverage.

[0087] The package strip 10 comprises a plurality of packages 11 formed by a pair of welded or sealed sheets 12, 13. Therefore, the sheets enclose a plurality of beverage portions 2.

[0088] Each beverage portion may contain a few grams of beverage precursors, for example 5 to 8 grams, corresponding to at least one serve of beverage. The beverage precursor is preferable essentially roast-and-ground coffee. The beverage precursor may also comprise a mix of roast-and-ground coffee and soluble coffee or roast-and ground coffee and milk powder. The beverage precursor may also be a soluble based product such as coffee, chocolate, milk or a combination thereof. For example, one portion may be suitable for preparing one cup of coffee.

[0089] The beverage precursor portions 2 are preferably spherical. In the present application, the term “spherical” encompasses also designs such as multiple facets (e.g. like a “football” shape) or a sphere having truncated faces of diameter less than the diameter of the sphere or slightly ovoid or oval or egg shapes. A preferred shape is however a ball with circular cross-sections.

[0090] The strip is preferably mainly symmetrical with the sheets being sealed on an equatorial plane (P) of the beverage portions.

[0091] The sheets are formed of formable flexible material comprising barrier properties and sealing properties.

[0092] In the present case, the sheets are formed of oxygen impervious material such as a laminate including at least one gas barrier layer. The sheets are also formed of external humidity impervious material so as to preserve the beverage precursor from humidity coming in, especially from water vapor. The material forming the sheets (all films and layers) is preferably compostable.

[0093] The term “compostable” means that the material is substantially broken down within a few months or weeks when it is industrially composted. The material is at least about 90% composted under specific conditions within six months as determined by the method of ISO14855 or EN13432.

[0094] The laminate may comprise a seal layer such as PLA, PBA, PBS, copolyester of adipidic acid, 1, 4-butanediol and dimethyl terephthalate (PBAT), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), poly(vinyl acetate-ethylene) (VAE), poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and combinations thereof. It may comprise an oxygen barrier layer such as EVOH, PVOH, SiOx, cellophane, metal and combinations thereof. An example of laminate can be PLA/EVOH/PLA. In these examples, PLA may be replaced by PBA, PBS, PPS, copolyester of adipidic acid, 1, 4-butanediol and dimethyl terephthalate (PBAT), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), poly(vinyl acetate-ethylene) (VAE), poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and combinations thereof. EVOH may also be replaced by PVOH and/or SiOx.

[0095] The sheets are here formed with hemi-spherical cavities 14, 15 for receiving the portions 2 therein.

[0096] These cavities of the sheets can be obtained by thermoforming. The forming of the cavities to the closest shape of the portions ensures that there is as less free space as possible between the portions 2 and the sheets so that the chance of room for residual air is reduced.

[0097] The packages 11 are here arranged along the strip and spaced apart by a constant distance “d”.

[0098] The sheets can be sealed together around each beverage precursor portion 2 in a discrete manner, e.g., by an annular seal around each portion, or in a continuous manner, e.g., by a continuous seal surrounding the portions and occupying an interspace between packages. In particular, the minimal seal width around each portion is at least 2 mm, preferably at least 3 mm, preferably of about 4 mm or 5 mm.

[0099] The thickness of the sealing sheets may be determined as function of the material to ensure both a proper forming of the cavities as close as possible to the beverage precursor portions 2 and a possible opening such as by a cutting line 16. The cutting line 16 is a virtual line where a cutting tool of a dispensing device can apply cutting onto the package to enable the beverage portion to be removed and separated from the strip. The cutting line is preferably located at the intersection between one formed cavity and a free part 17 of the strip. The cutting line could also be a weakening line where the sheet or strip is weakened (e.g. reduction of thickness) such as by laser compared to the rest of the sheet or strip.

[0100] According to a first example embodiment of the invention, one package 11 here comprises a ridge 18, which is for example a crest.

[0101] The ridge 18 here has a crescent shape.

[0102] The ridge is set on the top of one cavity and on a median plane of the corresponding package 11.

[0103] In FIG. 1, the ridge 18 of the packages 11 of the strip 10 are set in line along an axis of the strip; i.e. the ridges are configured to extend along a dispensing direction of the package strip into the dispensing device, as described here below. Therefore, such ridge 18 is also said longitudinal ridge 18 as extending along the longitudinal direction of the strip 10.

[0104] Furthermore, the ridges are here orthogonal to an equatorial plane (P) of the beverage portions 2.

[0105] Besides, in the illustrated embodiment, the cavities 14, 15 of each sheet 12, 13 are here provided with a ridge 18.

[0106] Therefore, the packages 11, and even the strip 10, are symmetrical according to the equatorial plane (P) of the beverage portions 2.

[0107] This enable to supply the packages 11 on either side in a beverage preparation apparatus and more specifically in a dispensing device of the beverage preparation apparatus.

[0108] A strip 10 of packages 11 as shown in FIG. 1 is configured to cooperate with a protrusion part as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0109] In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the protrusion part comprises a cam 31.

[0110] Accordingly, the cam 31 of the protrusion part comprises a circular portion 32 and a nose 33.

[0111] The cam 31 acts as a pushing member to assist to remove the beverage precursor portion 2 from the cavity 14 after the strip 10 is cut open.

[0112] To this end, the cam 31 is positioned coaxially with a driving wheel 111 (not illustrated on this figure but visible FIG. 5).

[0113] The cam 31 is preferably stationary arranged on an internal bearing which is arranged co-centrically relative to the driving wheel 111.

[0114] Such driving wheel 111 comprises an annular wall 112 comprising holes with an inner surface 113 of the annular wall forming a gap with the circular portion 32 of the cam 31 to allow sufficient room for each cavity to sit in.

[0115] The gap is interrupted by the nose 33 close to the inner surface of the annular wall.

[0116] The nose is preferably positioned past a cutting tool, e.g. at an angle of 10-30° after the cutting tool, to push the portion 2 outside the receiving cavity as the driving wheel rotates (here in clockwise direction).

[0117] The nose is also preferably placed in radial alignment direction with a portion collecting means.

[0118] Thus, when the nose 33 is in contact with one ridge 18 of one cavity 14, whereas the package 11 has already been opened (for example about an opening angle of 260°), then the nose 33 squeezes the cavity 14 and pushes the beverage precursor portion 2 outside of the package 11.

[0119] The second example embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from FIG. 1 in that the ridge 19 of one cavity is now set across an extension axis of the strip.

[0120] Thus, the ridges 19 of all the packages of the strip are set parallel to each other across an axis of the strip; i.e. the ridges 19 are configured to extend across a dispensing direction of the package strip 10 into the dispensing device.

[0121] Therefore, such ridge 19 is also said transverse ridge 19.

[0122] Same, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the cavities 14, 15 of each sheet 12, 13 are here provided with a ridge 19.

[0123] So, the packages 11, and even the strip 10, are symmetrical according to the equatorial plane (P) of the beverage portions 2.

[0124] A strip 10 of packages 11 as shown in FIG. 3 is configured to cooperate with a protrusion part as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0125] In the example embodiment of FIG. 4, the protrusion part comprises a finger 41.

[0126] Accordingly, the finger 41 is fixed in a dispensing device of a beverage preparation apparatus (not represented in the figures), with a tip of the finger pointing toward a cavity 15 which has been opened.

[0127] Such protrusion part acts as a stop member.

[0128] Once the package 11, carried on the driving wheel, has been cut open (for example about an opening angle of 260°), one ridge 19 of one cavity 15 bump into the finger 41 which enhances the opening of the package 11 and as a consequence facilitates an extraction of the beverage precursor portion 2 out of the package 11.

[0129] Although not illustrated, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3, and as a consequence of FIGS. 2 and 4, may be combined.

[0130] For example, a package 10 may comprise a longitudinal ridge 18 on one cavity 14 and a transverse ridge 19 the other cavity 15.

[0131] As another example, both cavities 14, 15 may comprise both a longitudinal ridge 18 and a transverse ridge 19, therefore forming a cross on each cavity. Such embodiment still provides a symmetrical package which can be easily supplied in a dispensing device on either side.

[0132] As a consequence of the above, a dispensing device may comprise both a cam 31 as presented and disclosed in connection with FIG. 2 and a finger 41 as presented and disclosed in connection with FIG. 4.

[0133] Thus, a ridge 18, 19 according to any embodiment of the invention, in cooperation with a protrusion part 31, 41 of a dispensing device of a beverage preparation apparatus, facilitates the extraction of the beverage precursor 2 portion contained in the package 11.

[0134] Once extracted, the beverage precursor portion is transported by a specific device or by gravity and moves toward an extraction system of the beverage preparation device of the beverage preparation apparatus.

[0135] FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of a beverage preparation apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0136] Such apparatus may be mainly as one described in WO 2019/219523 or WO 2019/219524.

[0137] The beverage preparation apparatus 100 comprises a dispensing device 110.

[0138] The dispensing device 110 here comprises a cam 31 as a protrusion part, as described in reference with FIG. 2.

[0139] The cam 31 acts as a pushing member to assist to expulse the beverage precursor portion 2 from the cavity of one package after the strip 10 is cut open.

[0140] However, the protrusion part may take various forms.

[0141] In the illustrated example, the cam 31 is stationary arranged on an internal bearing which is arranged co-centrically and coaxially relative to the driving wheel 111.

[0142] As already described, such driving wheel 111 comprises annular wall 112 comprising holes 114, which are receiving cavities.

[0143] The receiving cavities 114 are individually dimensioned and arranged at distance from one another so as to match with the distance d between neighboring packages 11 of the strip 10.

[0144] The annular wall 112 of the driving wheel 111 further comprises an inner surface 113 which forms a gap 115 with the circular portion 32 of the cam 31 to allow sufficient room for each cavity of one package 11 to sit in.

[0145] Gap 115 is interrupted by the nose 33 close to the inner surface 113 of the annular wall 112.

[0146] The nose is positioned past a cutting tool, e.g. at an angle of 10-30° after the cutting tool, to push the portion 2 outside the receiving cavity as the driving wheel 111 rotates (here in clockwise direction).

[0147] The nose 33 is also placed in radial alignment direction with a portion collecting means (not shown).

[0148] Thus, when the nose 33 is in contact with one ridge 18 of one cavity 14, whereas the package 11 has already been opened (for example about an opening angle of 260°), then the nose 33 squeezes the cavity 14 and pushes the beverage precursor portion 2 outside of the package 11, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0149] As a variant or in addition, the dispensing device 110 may comprise a finger 41 as illustrated in FIG. 4, not visible in FIG. 5.

[0150] The dispensing device may further comprise a package driving assembly arranged for catching one end of the package strip 10.

[0151] The driving wheel 111 is for example driven in rotation in a stepwise fashion by the package driving assembly. The driving wheel 111 and other elements of the apparatus 100 may be controlled by control means comprising a control unit which coordinates the motion of the package strip in the dispenser device 110, preferably in a stepwise manner by the package driving assembly, as well as an operation of a separating assembly for removal of the beverage precursor portions 2 from one corresponding package 11.

[0152] The dispensing device 110 further comprises package opening means (not shown) such as a cutting tool arranged for opening the cavities of one package by cutting along one cutting line in at least one of the sheets to remove each beverage precursor portion individually. The cutting tool may be driven by a linear motorized actuator configured for moving the cutting tool reciprocally between a retracted position and a cutting position. The cutting tool may be formed as a cylinder of diameter slightly larger than the diameter of one beverage portion and may comprise at least one blade arranged circumferentially on the free edge of the cylinder. Preferably, the cutting tool is arranged to cut the strip on at least 200° or preferably between 300 and 340° about the beverage portion to provide sufficient opening of the cavity and facilitate ejection of the beverage precursor portion while keeping the package material in one piece.

[0153] The apparatus 100 may further comprise a chute or the like, arranged for gently receiving and transporting by gravity or otherwise (e.g. air pressure), the beverage precursor portion to a beverage preparation device (not illustrated) to prepare the beverage.

[0154] Then, the apparatus 100 preferably comprises at least one container to receive the used package material on one side and the organic residue (beverage precursor portion after use) on another side, which eases recycling and composting of waste.