Cartridge Receptacle, Cartridge System, Beverage Preparation System and Method for Preparing a Beverage

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge receptacle for producing a beverage by means of a cartridge which comprises a pot reservoir which is filled with a beverage substance and is closed by a sealing element, in particular a sealing film, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a connecting region for connection to the cartridge, and the cartridge receptacle with the cartridge can be inserted into Got a beverage preparation machine, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a mixing chamber, which can be brought into fluid connection to the reservoir, and a fluid supply, which opens into the mixing chamber, for introducing liquid into the mixing chamber, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a cartridge unloading device for at least partially transferring the beverage substance from the reservoir into the mixing chamber, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a beverage outlet for conducting a beverage out of the mixing chamber, in particular directly, into a beverage container, wherein the cartridge receptacle also has a gas outlet for conducting a gas, in particular carbon dioxide, released in the mixing chamber out of the cartridge receptacle.

Claims

1. A cartridge receptacle for producing a beverage by means of a cartridge which comprises a reservoir which is filled with a beverage substance and which is sealed by a sealing element, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises: a) a connecting region for connection to the cartridge, and wherein the cartridge receptacle with the cartridge can be inserted into a beverage preparation machine; b) a mixing chamber which can be brought into a fluidic connection with the reservoir; c) a fluid supply which opens into the mixing chamber for introducing liquid into the mixing chamber, d) a cartridge discharge device for at least partially transferring the beverage substance from the reservoir into the mixing chamber; e) a beverage outlet for discharging a beverage out of the mixing chamber into a beverage container; f) a gas outlet for discharging a gas released in the mixing chamber out of the cartridge receptacle, and wherein an upper inlet surface of the gas outlet is arranged higher than an upper inlet surface of the beverage outlet.

2. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas outlet and/or the beverage outlet is configured to be substantially channel-shaped, and/or in that the fluid supply is a fluid supply opening which is configured for producing a fluidic connection with a fluid line of the beverage preparation machine.

3. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas outlet is arranged substantially parallel to the beverage outlet.

4. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, the gas outlet arranged substantially centrally in the cartridge receptacle.

5. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening of the beverage outlet is larger than an opening of the gas outlet, and wherein the beverage outlet has a larger cross-sectional surface than the gas outlet at least in some portions.

6. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 18, an opening of the gas outlet facing the sealing element has a smaller spacing from the sealing element than an opening of the beverage outlet facing the sealing element.

7. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 18, wherein that a spacing between an opening of the gas outlet facing the sealing element and the sealing element is between 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm.

8. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 18, a spacing between an opening of the gas outlet facing the sealing element and the sealing element is between 5% and 50% of a spacing between the opening of the beverage outlet facing the sealing element and the sealing element.

9. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge discharge device comprises a compressed air connection and a compressed air line which extends from the compressed air connection to a compressed air outlet, wherein the compressed air outlet protrudesin a direction of the reservoir of the cartridge, wherein the compressed air connection is configured to introduce compressed air into the reservoir, wherein the cartridge discharge device is configured such that the beverage substance can be transferred by the compressed air from the reservoir into the mixing chamber.

10. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge discharge device comprises a pin guide and a piercing pin which is mounted so as to be displaceable inside the pin guide, wherein the piercing pin is displaceable by an actuator element the beverage preparation machine, between a retracted position in which the piercing pin is spaced apart from the sealing element and an extended position in which the piercing pin pierces the sealing element and protrudes into the reservoir, wherein a compressed air line is integrated in the piercing pin.

11. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas outlet, the beverage outlet and/or a pin guide have a substantially circular cross section.

12. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas outlet is arranged between a pin guide and/or the fluid supply and the beverage outlet.

13. (canceled)

14. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a residue outlet, wherein a cross-sectional surface of the residue outlet is 2% to 30% of cross a sectional surface of the beverage outlet, and wherein the residue outlet is arranged in a lowest point of the cartridge receptacle in orientation during the beverage preparation.

15. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beverage outlet comprises a jet shaping element, wherein the jet shaping element is configured in a shape of a cross.

16. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas outlet has at least one spacing means for maintaining a minimum spacing from the sealing element, wherein the spacing means is configured in a shape of a circular arc segment.

17. The cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a flow shaping element in a region facing the fluid supply in order to ensure a laminar flow of a liquid conducted through the fluid supply into the mixing chamber.

18. A cartridge system for producing a beverage, wherein the cartridge system can be inserted into a beverage preparation machine, comprising: a cartridge which comprises a reservoir which is filled with a beverage substance, and the cartridge receptacle as claimed in claim 1, which is connected to the cartridge; wherein the cartridge receptacle and the cartridge are connected together in a connecting region; wherein the cartridge has a cartridge opening; wherein the cartridge opening in an edge region has a sealing element, wherein the sealing element seals the reservoir in a fluid-tight manner relative to the cartridge receptacle.

19. A beverage preparation system comprising a) a beverage preparation machine; and b) the cartridge system as claimed in claim 18; wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises; i. a cartridge holder, which is configured to protrude forward and into which the cartridge system can be inserted ii. a liquid reservoir; iii. a liquid conditioning system for conditioning a liquid from the liquid reservoir, for heating, cooling, and/or carbonating the liquid; iv. an actuator element for actuating the cartridge discharge device; v. a fluid supply system, which can be coupled to the cartridge system and which is provided to introduce the conditioned liquid through the fluid supply into the mixing chamber and to introduce compressed air at a compressed air connection into a compressed air line; and vi. a control device for controlling the liquid conditioning system, the fluid supply system, and/or the actuator element.

20. The beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the beverage preparation machine has a locking means in order to lock the cartridge system reversibly in the cartridge holder, wherein the locking means can be actuated by a user.

21. A method for preparing a beverage with the beverage preparation system as claimed in claim 19, the method comprising: inserting a cartridge system composed of a cartridge and a cartridge receptacle into the cartridge holder; producing a fluidic connection between the fluid supply system and the cartridge receptacle; activating the actuator element for actuating the cartridge discharge device by transferring a piercing pin from a retracted position into an extended position, whereby a perforation of a sealing means is brought about; transferring the beverage substance from the reservoir of the cartridge into the mixing chamber of the cartridge receptacle by feeding compressed air into the cartridge through the compressed air connection; introducing a liquid into the mixing chamber of the cartridge receptacle through the fluid supply; discharging through the beverage outlet the beverage produced in the mixing chamber by mixing the beverage substance with the liquid; and discharging through the gas outlet released during the mixing.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0066] The invention is explained hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. These explanations are merely by way of example and do not limit the general inventive idea. The explanations apply to the cartridge according to the invention, the cartridge system according to the invention, the beverage preparation system according to the invention and equally to the method according to the invention.

[0067] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic cross sections of a cartridge receptacle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0068] FIGS. 3 and 4 show different views of a cartridge receptacle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0069] FIGS. 5 and 6 show schematic cross sections of a cartridge system, a beverage preparation system and a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] A schematic cross section of a cartridge receptacle 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Such a cartridge receptacle 1 is configured, in particular, in the manner of a cap and is mounted on a cartridge 16 in order to form a cartridge system.

[0071] The cartridge 16, which is not shown here for the sake of clarity, comprises a lateral wall and a base connected to the lateral wall, preferably configured in one piece therewith. On the end opposing the base the cartridge has an opening which is preferably surrounded by a cartridge neck which particularly preferably has a smaller diameter than the lateral wall. On the open end, the cartridge 16 preferably has at least one flange 18, in particular oriented at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge 16. This flange 18 is provided, on the one hand, to create a non-positive and/or positive connection with a connecting region 2 of the cartridge receptacle 1. On the other hand, a sealing element is preferably fastened to the flange 18.

[0072] According to the embodiments explained herein, the sealing element is a sealing film 19 which is sealed, for example, to the flange 18 and thereby seals the cavity in the cartridge 16, in particular in a fluid-tight, i.e. liquid-tight and air-tight, manner. The cavity serves as a reservoir 17 for a preferably liquid beverage substance. A person skilled in the art understands that a beverage substance can also be instead, in particular, a liquid food substance, such as for example baby food, porridge, soup or medicinal products such as high-calorie food. It is significant that the (beverage) substance is provided to be mixed with a liquid, in particular water.

[0073] The cartridge 16 and, in particular, the lateral wall can have substantially any shape, for example a round or angled cross section, and dimensions, in particular length and diameter, in a range which is as a wide as possible. Only the cartridge neck has to be configured such that it can be connected in a connecting region to the connecting region 2 of the cartridge receptacle. It is a particular advantage of the beverage preparation system according to the invention that the cartridge holder 24 of the beverage preparation machine is preferably configured to protrude forward. This means, in particular, that the cartridge holder 24 protrudes from a housing of the beverage preparation machine, in particular substantially horizontally, and is configured to be substantially disk-shaped. The cartridge system consisting of the cartridge 16 and the cartridge receptacle 1 is inserted into the cartridge holder upside down, i.e. such that the opening of the cartridge 16 faces downwardly and the cartridge receptacle 1 is the lowest element of the cartridge system, and preferably reversibly locked therein. This means that the cartridge 16 freely protrudes upwardly from the cartridge holder 24 and thus is free in terms of shape.

[0074] The cartridge receptacle 1 has in the connecting region 2 an opening which directly adjoins the sealing element, here the sealing film 19. On the opposing end the cartridge receptacle 1 according to the invention has at least two openings. The one opening is a beverage outlet via which the finished mixed beverage can exit and is preferably transferred directly into a beverage container, such as a cup, a mug or a glass. The beverage outlet 5 is preferably configured in a channel-like manner, i.e. it comprises lateral walls and a longitudinal extent. The length of the beverage outlet 5 is selected, in particular, such that a directed and uniform beverage jet is generated. Particularly preferably, to this end the beverage outlet also comprises a jet shaping element 15, for example a cross, which is arranged in the lower region and is configured to shape the jet as desired.

[0075] A fluid supply 4 is provided in a lateral wall of the cartridge receptacle 1, the fluid supply being configured here as a hole, in particular with a conical border. This fluid supply 4 cooperates in the beverage preparation machine with a coupling element 20 through which a liquid, in particular cooled and/or carbonated water, is introduced through the fluid supply 4 into the cartridge receptacle 1.

[0076] The free volume in the cartridge receptacle 1 serves as a mixing chamber 3 in which the beverage substance is mixed with the inflowing liquid, and thus forms the desired beverage before it escapes through the beverage outlet 5.

[0077] As can be derived from the illustration, an upper opening of the beverage outlet 5 is located above a lower region of the mixing chamber 3 so that a length which is sufficient for a jet shaping is achieved. So that the beverage produced in the mixing chamber 3 can still be discharged out of the cartridge receptacle 1 without residues and, in particular, so that it is possible to avoid a continuous dripping when removing the cartridge system from the beverage preparation machine and a remaining unusable dead volume, the cartridge receptacle 1 can also have a residue outlet 7 which is provided, in particular, at the lowest point of the mixing chamber (in the orientation as is present in the arrangement mounted in the beverage preparation machine). Particularly preferably, the residue outlet 7 is provided adjacent to the beverage outlet 5 and/or is at least partially part of the beverage outlet 5. Here, for example, the beverage outlet 5 is provided such that it has a substantially circular cross section, wherein a small region of the cross section is configured in a region of the periphery of the residue outlet 7. In particular, the upper inlet surface of the residue outlet 7 is arranged lower than the upper inlet surface of the beverage outlet 5. In the present case, this also results in the length and the cross-sectional surface of the residue outlet 7 being significantly smaller than the length and the cross-sectional surface of the beverage outlet 5 since the residue outlet 7 is merely provided for discharging a relatively small residual volume.

[0078] In order to transfer the beverage substance from the reservoir 17 into the mixing chamber 3, the cartridge receptacle 1 has a cartridge discharge device. Below the fluid supply 4 the cartridge receptacle 1 has a compressed air connection 9 which also has a conical border here, in order to cooperate with a compressed air supply of the beverage preparation machine, so that compressed air can be introduced into the cartridge receptacle 1. Preferably, the machine-side coupling element 20 comprises both a compressed air line 21 and a liquid line 22 so that the coupling element 20 can be coupled with both openings to the fluid supply 4 and the compressed air connection 9, in particular at the same time. The compressed air is conducted in the direction of a pin guide 9 from the compressed air connection 9. This pin guide is configured here as an opening which positively receives a piercing pin 14, not shown here, such that the piercing pin is longitudinally displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position.

[0079] The compressed air connection 9, the pin guide 8 and the piercing pin 14 form part of the cartridge discharge device.

[0080] The piercing pin 14 is provided such that it cooperates with an actuator element 23 of the beverage preparation machine, in particular the cartridge holder 24, so that the piercing pin 14 can be transferred from its retracted position into the extended position. In the extended position, the piercing pin 14 perforates the sealing film 19 so that the beverage substance can flow through the sealing film 19 into the mixing chamber 3, in particular via at least one groove-shaped channel arranged on the outer periphery of the piercing pin 14. Since a negative pressure would or could otherwise be produced in the reservoir 17 of the cartridge 16 by the arrangement of the cartridge system and the configuration of the cartridge receptacle 1, the piercing pin 14 has an internal compressed air line 11 which opens into the tip of the piercing pin 14 in a compressed air outlet 10, wherein the piercing pin 14 and, in particular, the compressed air line 11 are configured such that the compressed air line 11 is only fluidically connected to the compressed air connection 9 in the extended position. As a result, it is ensured that compressed air is not inadvertently introduced into the mixing chamber 3. The compressed air is introduced into the reservoir 17 during the preparation and replaces the volume released therein by the outflow of the beverage substance into the mixing chamber 3. Preferably, the compressed air supply is controlled by a control device of the beverage preparation machine such that the compressed air additionally assists the transfer of the beverage substance into the mixing chamber, i.e. in particular a small excess pressure is built up in the cartridge 16.

[0081] Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that the beverage preparation machine controls the compressed air supply, such that toward the end of the beverage preparation a residual volume of the beverage substance, the liquid and/or the beverage is driven out of the cartridge system via the residue outlet 7.

[0082] Moreover, the cartridge receptacle 1 also has a flow shaping element 13 which faces the fluid supply and which is preferably configured to be prow-shaped. The flow shaping element 13 is provided to divide, and in particular to distribute evenly, the liquid flow entering the mixing chamber 3. In particular, it should be avoided that a turbulent flow occurs since this impedes a uniform mixing of the liquids and since, in particular in the case of carbonated water, in a turbulent flow an increased outgassing of the carbonic acid into the environment occurs, in particular as carbon dioxide. When maintaining a substantially laminar flow this release of gas is minimized. A person skilled in the art understands that this outgassing is dependent, amongst other things, on the temperature, pressure and flow rate.

[0083] Generally, however, a certain volume of gas, in particular carbon dioxide, is released in the mixing chamber. This gas could escape, for example, through the beverage outlet 5 into the environment and disrupt the beverage jet. Thus, for example, it can lead to an intermittent jet, to splashes or bubbles. This is not desirable. Thus the cartridge receptacle 1 according to the invention also has a gas outlet 6 which is configured, in particular, separately from the beverage outlet 5. Separately means, in particular, that liquid and/or gas from the mixing chamber 3 cannot pass downstream from the beverage outlet 5 into the gas outlet 6 and vice versa, and thus no holes or fluidic connections are present between the two outlets which are preferably configured in a channel-like manner. So that it is ensured that in turn no liquid, i.e. neither the introduced liquid nor the beverage substance or the finished beverage, escapes via the gas outlet 6 but that the beverage is discharged primarily via the beverage outlet 5 and secondarily via the smaller residue outlet 7, an upper inlet surface of the gas outlet 6, as illustrated here, is arranged higher than the upper inlet surface of the beverage outlet 5.

[0084] The gas outlet 6 is provided here substantially centrally in the cartridge receptacle 1 but it can also be arranged, for example, in an edge region. The arrangement shown here is advantageous, however, since it is desired in any case that the liquid and the beverage substance covers a path which is as long as possible between the fluid supply 4 and the beverage outlet 6 for the purpose of thorough mixing, and thus the central region between the pin guide 8 and the beverage outlet 5 is advantageously available.

[0085] However, depending on the conditions and parameters of the beverage preparation, it can lead to the sealing film 19 being not entirely horizontally oriented, due to gravity and/or the pressure prevailing in the reservoir, but being bulged in the direction of the mixing chamber. A person skilled in the art understands that, in particular, in the central arrangement of the gas outlet 6 proposed here, the upper inlet opening of the gas outlet 6 is located in the region of the maximum bulging of the sealing film 19. So that a sufficiently large opening is still available, via which the released gas can escape, the gas outlet 6 on its upper periphery has at least one spacer means 12, in this case, for example, at least one circular arc segment-shaped projection which optionally comes into contact with the bulged sealing film and thus ensures a minimum spacing and, as a result, a minimum free opening cross section between the inlet opening of the gas outlet and the sealing film 19. According to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the spacing between the upper end of the gas outlet 6 and an imaginary horizontal sealing film 19 is at least 0.40 mm, in particular at least 0.45 or 0.50 mm.

[0086] A further schematic cross section of a cartridge receptacle 1 is shown in FIG. 2. Here the cartridge receptacle 1 substantially corresponds to the embodiment explained in connection with FIG. 1 so that reference is made to the relevant embodiments.

[0087] Here the cartridge receptacle 1 is shown rotated by 180, i.e. the fluid supply 4 and the compressed air connection 9 are shown to the left in the drawing. Moreover, the piercing pin 14 is also arranged in the pin guide 8, wherein the piercing pin 14 is shown here by way of example in the extended position. As visible in the drawing, a fluidic connection is produced therein between the compressed air connection 9 and the compressed air outlet 10 through the compressed air line 11. In the position shown, if the piercing pin 14, i.e. in a mounted cartridge system, had pierced the sealing film 19, the beverage substance would be transferred from the reservoir 17 into the mixing chamber, assisted by the compressed air introduced into the cartridge 16. A channel is also indicated on the piercing pin 14, in the upper left region, the beverage substance advantageously being able to flow thereby into the mixing chamber. This channel is particularly preferably open outwardly, i.e. configured in the shape of a groove.

[0088] It is also shown in FIG. 2 that the piercing pin 14 preferably has a tip and an obliquely arranged surface which assist a perforation of the sealing film 19. The compressed air outlet 10 is preferably provided in the aforementioned surface and, in particular, centrally in the piercing pin 14.

[0089] On its lower end in the drawing, the piercing pin 14 has a region which is designed here as a recess in which an actuator element 23 of the beverage preparation machine engages in order to transfer the piercing pin 14 from the retracted position into the extended position. This region is preferably configured at least in some portions to taper upwardly, i.e. in the direction of the tip of the piercing pin 14, in order to permit a simple centering of the actuating element 23, whereby a canting of the piercing pin 14 in the pin guide 8 and resulting therefrom a possible damage to the cartridge system and/or the beverage preparation machine is avoided.

[0090] In the present case, the lower end region of the cartridge receptacle 1 is provided obliquely but this is primarily an aesthetic decision, for example a substantially horizontally arranged end region might also be possible which is oriented, in particular, parallel to the opening plane defined by the connecting region and, in particular, the upper peripheral edge.

[0091] Here the gas outlet 6 and the beverage outlet 5 have a substantially circular cross section, wherein a small region is removed from the beverage outlet 5, this region being taken up by the residue outlet 7. A person skilled in the art understands, however, that in principle also other cross sections, for example oval-shaped or polygonal cross sections, are possible.

[0092] A perspective view of the cartridge receptacle 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3. The above embodiments thus also apply to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0093] In particular, the shaping of the cartridge receptacle 1 can be seen here merely by way of example. This cartridge receptacle has at its upper end, which corresponds to the lower end according to the views of FIGS. 1 and 2, a wall-like rectangular edge region, the beverage outlet the gas outlet 6 and the pin guide 8 being arranged therein.

[0094] Apart from this region, the cartridge receptacle 1 substantially has a domed shape, i.e. in principle it is configured to be rounded on its end opposing the opening.

[0095] In FIG. 3, in particular, it can be identified that the gas outlet 6 has a smaller opening cross section compared with the beverage outlet 5, in particular also compared with the pin guide.

[0096] A jet shaping element 15, which is configured here to be rib-shaped and cross shaped, is also shown in FIG. 3 in the beverage outlet 5. The length of the beverage outlet 5, the cross section thereof and the jet shaping element 15 together serve to shape and to direct the escaping beverage jet.

[0097] The gas outlet 6, in comparison with the beverage outlet has a smaller spacing from the sealing film 19, so that only gas can escape from the gas outlet 6. The gas can flow out of the gas outlet 6 in any manner, however, such that the gas outlet 6 does not have to have any such jet shaping elements. A certain minimum length of the gas outlet 6 is not significant, so that this gas outlet, as shown here, has a simple and in particular a lower opening (according to the orientation shown here) in comparison with the pin guide 8 and/or the beverage outlet 5.

[0098] In FIG. 4 only a plan view of the cartridge receptacle 1 is shown from the side of the connecting region 2. This embodiment also substantially corresponds to the embodiments already explained above, so that the relevant embodiments are also applicable here. Here, in particular, it can be identified that the cartridge receptacle 1 has a substantially circular cross section with a flattened portion in the region of the fluid supply 4 and the compressed air connection 9 in order to permit a simpler coupling to the beverage preparation machine. In particular, the region of the cartridge holder 24 receiving the cartridge receptacle 1 is preferably configured such that it receives the cartridge receptacle 1 positively and/or non-positively. Due to the flattened region a preferred orientation is also advantageously ensured thereby, so that a reliable coupling to the beverage preparation machine takes place.

[0099] The prow shape of the flow shaping element 13 is clearly identifiable here, the flow shaping element in the present case being integrally formed on the pin guide 8, wherein the flow shaping element 13, the pin guide 8, the connecting region 2, the gas outlet 6, the beverage outlet 5 and/or residue outlet 7 are preferably formed in one piece.

[0100] Preferably, the cartridge 16 and/or the cartridge receptacle are produced from a plastics material, in particular by means of an injection-molding or a blow-molding method.

[0101] Particularly preferably, the piercing pin 14 is produced separately from the same materials and/or by the same method and then inserted in the cartridge receptacle 1. Alternatively, the piercing pin 14 is produced at the same time with the cartridge receptacle 1.

[0102] The configuration of the residue outlet 7 can also be identified in FIG. 4. Here the residue outlet 7 has a substantially oval cross section and a circular segment-shaped region is removed from the substantially circular cross section of the beverage outlet 5, the residue outlet 7 being provided therein. In other words, apart from a partition wall, the beverage outlet 5 and the residue outlet 7 together form a substantially circular cross section. It is only important that the residue outlet 7 is arranged in the lowest region of the mixing chamber 3. As shown here, this residue outlet can transition into the beverage outlet 5 downstream thereof.

[0103] The gas outlet 6 and the pin guide 8 are also connected by way of example by a rounded portion in order to improve the flow conditions in the mixing chamber 3.

[0104] Finally, it is possible to identify ribs protruding inwardly at a plurality of points along the periphery of the connecting region 2, i.e. in the direction of the mixing chamber 3, the ribs serving as spacers for the cartridge 16 so that a correct mounting of the cartridge system is ensured, also optionally on the part of the user.

[0105] Finally, it can be identified from the view in FIG. 4 that, in particular, the residue outlet 7, the beverage outlet 5, the gas outlet 6, the pin guide 8 and the fluid supply 4 and the compressed air connection 9 are located substantially on an imaginary axis, which runs here in the image from left to right, and the mixing chamber 3 is largely provided on both sides of this axis.

[0106] In FIGS. 5 and 6 schematic cross sections of a cartridge system inserted in a cartridge holder 24 of a beverage preparation machine of a beverage preparation system are shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The views differ in that in FIG. 5 the piercing pin 14 has just pierced the sealing film 19 with its tip, while in FIG. 6 a later position is shown. Both views show positions of the piercing pin 14 between the retracted position and the fully extended position.

[0107] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the cartridge receptacle 1 also substantially correspond to the embodiments already explained above so that the relevant embodiments are also applicable here.

[0108] In the present case, for reasons of clarity, the cartridge 16 and the beverage preparation machine are only indicated. The cartridge 16 can be identified on the upper edge of the drawing and comprises at least one flange 18 by which the cartridge 16 is connected positively and/or non-positively via the connecting region 2 to the cartridge receptacle 1. In order to ensure a secure connection, in particular a rotationally fixed connection, the cartridge 16 can also have, for example, two vertically spaced-apart peripheral flanges. The sealing film 19 is sealed to the flange, which thus represents the outermost element of the cartridge 16.

[0109] In FIG. 5 the tip of the piercing pin 14 has just pierced the sealing film 19. The compressed air connection 9 is not yet fluidically connected to the compressed air outlet 10 and preferably substantially no beverage substance is able to pass from the reservoir 17 into the mixing chamber 3.

[0110] In order to clarify the elements of the cartridge receptacle 1 and their respective functions, in the present case the actuator element 23 of the beverage preparation machine is illustrated spaced apart from the piercing pin 14, but a person skilled in the art understands that the piercing pin 14 is preferably transferred from the retracted position into the extended position by a permanent contact between an actuator element receptacle of the piercing pin 14 and the actuator element 23, in particular by a permanent application of force, here upwardly in the vertical direction.

[0111] It can also be identified in FIG. 5 that a coupling element 20 of the beverage preparation machine is already in contact with the fluid supply 4 and the compressed air connection 9, wherein in particular guide surfaces of the coupling element 20 cooperate with the conical surfaces of the fluid supply 4 and the compressed air connection 9 in order to ensure a fluid-tight and secure coupling. The coupling element 20 has both an internal liquid line 22 and an internal compressed air line 21, which in each case are connected indirectly to a liquid reservoir of the beverage preparation machine or an external liquid supply or a compressed air source of the beverage preparation machine or an external compressed air supply. Indirectly means in this case that, in particular, further components are present between the liquid reservoir and the liquid line 22, such as a liquid conditioning system which is provided, for example, to carbonate and/or too cool the liquid, in particular water, and to introduce the liquid under pressure into the liquid line 22. The carbonated and cooled water flows through the fluid supply 4 into the mixing chamber 3, wherein the flow shaping element 13 ensures that a substantially laminar flow is maintained.

[0112] In FIG. 6 a piercing pin 14 has penetrated sufficiently far forward through the sealing film 19 that the compressed air outlet 10 is arranged inside the reservoir 17 and the, in particular groove-shaped, channel provided on the outer face of the piercing pin 14 provides a path for the beverage substance from the reservoir 17 into the mixing chamber 3. The compressed air line 11 of the piercing pin 14 already partially overlaps the compressed air connection 9 so that a partial fluidic connection is present and compressed air can pass from the machine-side compressed air line 21 into the reservoir 17 and contributes to the transfer of the beverage substance into the mixing chamber 3, where a mixing with the optionally carbonated and/or cooled water takes place before it is dispensed via the beverage outlet 5 into a beverage container arranged therebelow. A person skilled in the art understands that, depending on the beverage, the beverage preparation machine can be operated with different parameters and/or the cartridge receptacle 1 is correspondingly configured. Thus, for example, the temperature and/or the degree of carbonation of the water can be controlled. The dilution ratio can also be controlled, in particular, by a user.

[0113] To this end, firstly the volumetric flow of the liquid, for example the water, can be controlled. The volumetric flow of the beverage substance can also be controlled. This can take place firstly via the volumetric flow of the compressed air, but secondly for example also via the number or the size of channels of the piercing pin 14 and/or the diameter of the piercing pin 14 passing through the sealing film 19.

[0114] According to the invention, gas released during the preparation, in particular carbon dioxide in the case of carbonated water, is discharged via the gas outlet 6 from the cartridge receptacle 1 into the environment.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0115] 1 Cartridge receptacle [0116] 2 Connecting region [0117] 3 Mixing chamber [0118] 4 Fluid supply [0119] 5 Beverage outlet [0120] 6 Gas outlet [0121] 7 Residue outlet [0122] 8 Pin guide [0123] 9 Compressed air connection [0124] 10 Compressed air outlet [0125] 11 Compressed air line [0126] 12 Spacing means [0127] 13 Flow shaping element [0128] 14 Piercing pin [0129] 15 Jet shaping element [0130] 16 Cartridge [0131] 17 Reservoir [0132] 18 Flange [0133] 19 Sealing film [0134] 20 Coupling element [0135] 21 Compressed air line (machine-side) [0136] 22 Liquid line (machine-side) [0137] 23 Actuator element [0138] 24 Cartridge holder