Cartridge Receptacle, Cartridge System, Beverage Preparation Machine, and Method for Producing a Beverage

Abstract

Proposed is a cartridge system (1) for producing a beverage, said cartridge system (1) being insertable into a beverage preparation machine (3), wherein: the cartridge system (1) includes a cartridge (2), which has a reservoir (6) filled with a beverage substance (7); and a cartridge receptacle (10) connected to the cartridge (2), said cartridge receptacle (10) having a mixing chamber (8) that can be fluidically connected to the reservoir (6); and including a fluid supply (12) that leads to the mixing chamber (8); the cartridge system (1) further comprising an identification means for identifying the cartridge system in the beverage preparation machine (3).

Claims

1. A cartridge system for producing a beverage, wherein the cartridge system can be inserted into a beverage preparation machine, wherein the cartridge system has a cartridge, which comprises a reservoir filled with a beverage substance, and a cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a mixing chamber that can be brought into fluid connection with the reservoir and a fluid feed opening into the mixing chamber, wherein the cartridge system comprises an identification means comprising an identification element for identifying the cartridge system in the beverage preparation machine, and wherein the identification element is arranged within the reservoir and/or the mixing chamber.

2. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means comprises a coating on an inner surface of the cartridge and/or the cartridge receptacle.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge system between the reservoir and the mixing chamber.

6. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification element is connected to the cartridge, the cartridge receptacle, and/or a neck of the cartridge in a force-fitting, material-fitting, and/or form-fitting manner.

7. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification element is integrally connected to and/or is integrated into the cartridge, the cartridge receptacle, and/or a neck of the cartridge.

8. (canceled)

9. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means is an optically readable code arranged on an inside of an at least partially optically transparent wall of the reservoir or the mixing chamber.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beverage substance acts as the identification means.

15. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a compressed-air connection opening into the reservoir for introducing compressed air into the reservoir.

16. A beverage preparation machine for producing a beverage, in which the cartridge system according to claim 1 can be inserted, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises a retaining unit, in which the cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted.

17. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retaining unit comprises at least one contact element contacting the identification means of the cartridge system to determine at least one physical parameter of the identification means for identifying the cartridge system.

18. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises a measuring unit connected to the at least one contact element for measuring electrical resistance and/or electrical conductivity of the identification means.

19. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the contact element comprises a piercing tip which pierces a wall of the cartridge system to contact the identification means when measuring the at least one physical parameter.

20. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the beverage preparation machine comprises a fluid source for feeding a fluid into the fluid feed and a compressed-air source for blowing compressed air into a compressed air connection.

21. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retaining unit comprises a release element for transferring a piercing means of the cartridge receptacle from a retracted position to an extended position.

22. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the retaining unit comprises a fastening flange which engages around the cartridge receptacle in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner during or after insertion into the retaining unit.

23. The beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 22, wherein the contact element is integrated into the fastening flange.

24. A system comprising a beverage preparation machine as claimed in claim 16 and a cartridge system insertable into the retaining unit.

25.-38. (canceled)

39. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coating, is in a form of a lacquer, an imprint, or a foil, on an inner surface of the cartridge and/or the cartridge receptacle.

40. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the identification element is stuck, welded, latched, and/or pressed to the cartridge, the cartridge receptacle, and/or the neck of the cartridge.

41. The cartridge system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the optically readable code is a one- or multi-dimensional barcode, a pattern, or a hologram.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the beverage preparation machine without inserted cartridge receptacle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the cartridge system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the beverage preparation machine with a cartridge system inserted into the beverage preparation machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] FIGS. 4a to 4c show the basic principle of the method for producing a beverage with the cartridge system inserted in a beverage preparation machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the cartridge system according to further exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0080] FIGS. 6a and 6b schematically show the reading of the product identifier of the system according to the invention.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the beverage preparation machine with a cartridge system inserted in the beverage preparation machine according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 8 schematically shows the steps of the method for producing a beverage according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0083] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference signs and are therefore each generally also mentioned only once.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a beverage preparation machine 3 without an inserted cartridge receptacle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] The beverage preparation machine 3 comprises a retaining unit 90 for receiving a cartridge system 10 (see FIG. 2). The retaining unit 90 comprises an operating lever 120 for manually operating a release mechanism for extending a piercing spike 73 of the cartridge receptacle 10 for piercing a sealing agent 18. When the user rotates the operating lever 120, the trigger mechanism for extending the piercing spike is actuated. In this case, the release mechanism in particular moves the cartridge system 19 downwards in or with the retaining unit 90 so that the piercing spike 73 strikes against a stationary release element of the retaining unit 90 and is thereby transferred upwards in the direction of the extended position in which the sealing agent 18 is perforated.

[0086] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the cartridge system 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] The cartridge system 1 comprises a cartridge 2, which comprises a reservoir 6 filled with a beverage substance 7 and a cartridge opening 63. In the initial state, the cartridge opening 63 is sealed with a sealing agent 18 in the form of a foil. In the region of the cartridge opening 63, the cartridge 2 comprises a neck which is provided with circumferential retaining flanges 52.

[0088] The cartridge system 1 further comprises a cartridge receptacle 10, which is placed on the neck and is in particular connected or latched to the retaining flanges 52. The cartridge receptacle 10 comprises a mixing chamber 8, a beverage outlet 11 leading out of the mixing chamber 8 for a beverage produced in the mixing chamber 8, and a fluid feed 12 (see FIGS. 4a to 4c) opening into the mixing chamber 8, through which a liquid, in particular cooled and/or carbonated water, is introduced into the mixing chamber 8.

[0089] The cartridge receptacle 10 furthermore comprises a spike guide 80, in which a piercing spike 73 is displaceably guided. The piercing spike 73 is shown in a retracted position in FIG. 1.

[0090] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge receptacle 10 preferably comprises an identification means 20. The identification means 20 is formed as an identification element 21, which comprises the neck of the cartridge 2. The identification element 21 is either configured in an annular shape and surrounds the neck completely, i.e. along its entire circumference, or the identification means 21 is configured in a c-shape so that it surrounds the neck only partially, i.e. does not extend along the entire circumference of the neck. If the identification means 21 is c-shaped, it is preferably clip-fastened laterally onto the neck. If the identification means 21 is annular, thus in particular also sleeve-shaped and/or cylindrical, the identification element 20 is preferably connected to the neck in a force-fitting, material-fitting or form-fitting manner, in particular stuck on, welded on, shrunk on, pressed on, pushed on, plugged on or the like. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the identification means 20 to comprise a coating 22 which is applied to the neck as a lacquer or adhesive film or label, in particular lacquered on, sprayed on, vapor-deposited or glued on. The identification element 21 preferably comprises a defined electrical conductivity, which can be measured by means of contact elements 23 of the retaining unit 90. For this purpose, the identification element 20 is optionally made at least partially of metal or of an electrically conductive plastic, in particular an electrically conductive plastic foil.

[0091] Alternatively, the cartridge receptacle shown in FIG. 2 does not comprise the identification means 20 in the form of the identification element 21 at the neck of the cartridge 2, but only the identification means 20, 24 (later also referred to as product identifier 24) in the region of the cartridge wall 2′. In this context, the identification means 20 is in particular a code, for example a marker, a pattern, a lettering, an image, a logo, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, a bitcode, a QR code, a data matrix code, a color code and/or a hologram code, which is stuck, printed or otherwise applied to the cartridge 2 and which is read out by an optical identifier detector 39 (see FIGS. 6a, 6b). Alternatively, it could be an RFID chip or magnetic element read by a corresponding identifier detector.

[0092] In any case, the identification means 20, 24 serves to check the system affiliation of the cartridge system 1 within the beverage preparation machine 3, thus to enable identification of the cartridge system 1. It is also conceivable for the identification means 20, 24 to be used to identify and, in particular, to set the cartridge system type and, in particular, operating parameters of the beverage preparation machine, such as, for example, feed rate, feed time, feed pauses, temperature, degree of carbonation and/or pressure of the fed fluid and/or the fed compressed air.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the beverage preparation machine 3 shown in FIG. 1, in which the cartridge system 1 shown in FIG. 2 is inserted.

[0094] The retaining unit 90, in which the cartridge receptacle 10 is inserted, comprises a release element by means of which the piercing spike 73 can be transferred from its retracted position to an extended position.

[0095] When the piercing spike 73 is moved to an extended position, it perforates the sealing element 18, allowing the beverage substance to pass between the sealing element and the outer surface of the piercing spike 73 into the mixing chamber 8. The piercing spike 73 further comprises an integral compressed-air communication in the form of a compressed-air line 40 extending from an external compressed-air connection 42, through which compressed air is blown into the compressed-air line 40 from outside, to a compressed-air outlet 43 then located inside the reservoirs at the end of the piercing spike 73, whereby the compressed air is blown into the reservoir 6. The beverage substance is then transferred to the mixing chamber 8 by the pressure of the compressed air. The beverage is then produced in the mixing chamber 8 by mixing the beverage substance with the liquid fed by the fluid feed 12 and is discharged through the beverage outlet 11 in the direction of a drinking vessel, for example.

[0096] The retaining unit 90 is in fluid communication with a compressed-air source to feed compressed air to the compressed-air connection 42. Further, the retaining unit is in fluid communication with a fluid source to feed the fluid or the aforementioned liquid to the fluid feed.

[0097] In the embodiment in which the identification means 20 is configured as an identification element 21, the retaining unit 90 optionally further comprises two contact elements 23 which are arranged on opposite sides of the cartridge and each form a direct contact with the identification means 20 arranged on the neck. The electrical conductivity or electrical resistance of the identification element 21 or the coating 22 is measured via the contact elements 23 and the measured value is used to determine whether the cartridge system 10 inserted into the retaining unit 90 is a system-compatible cartridge system 10. Only if this test is positive, the method for producing the beverage is carried out or continued. Otherwise, the beverage preparation machine switches off, in particular immediately.

[0098] It is also conceivable for the type of cartridge system 10 to be determined on the basis of the measured conductivity value. On the basis of the type, the operating parameters stored in a memory and suitable for the type are then loaded by the machine and the beverage production process is carried out with these operating parameters.

[0099] It is also conceivable for the machine to detect on the basis of the measured conductivity value whether the cartridge 2 contains substances containing alcohol. If such an alcoholic substance is detected, the beverage preparation machine carries out an additional verification step, which is intended to determine the age and/or identification of the user, for example by means of a credit card, a fingerprint reader, facial recognition, a login or password or the like.

[0100] Optionally, it is also conceivable for the cartridge 2 to be additionally or exclusively provided with a product identifier 24 in the form of a code by means of which the type of cartridge 2 can be identified if the system affiliation of the cartridge 2 has already been verified by means of the identification means 20, thus, in particular the conductivity measurement, or as the sole identification means 20 for recognizing the system affiliation. In particular, the product identifier 24 comprises a code applied to the outer wall of the cartridge 2 or cartridge receptacle 10, such as a marker, pattern, lettering, image, logo, one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code, bit code, QR code, data matrix code, color code, and/or hologram code.

[0101] The identification means 20 configured as a code or the product identifier 24 also serves here in particular to verify the system affiliation of the cartridge system 1 (an authentication of the cartridge system in the second method step) and optionally to indicate the beverage substance 7 contained in the cartridge 2. It is conceivable that, additionally or alternatively, operating parameters of the beverage preparation machine 3, such as, for example, feed rate, feed rate, feed time, feed pauses, start time, end time, temperature, degree of carbonation and/or pressure of the supplied fluid, thus, in particular, control parameters of the fluid feed pump, and/or of the fed compressed air, thus, in particular, control parameters of the air feed pump, are set on the basis of the product identifier 24 or the code. This is done in and by an evaluation and control unit of the beverage preparation machine 3. It is conceivable for the beverage preparation machine 3 to have a plurality of pre-stored beverage production programs that differ in the operating parameters of the beverage preparation machine 3. Each beverage production program is associated with one or more product identifiers 24. The product identifier 24 is read out by an identifier detector 39 of the beverage preparation machine 3, in particular an optical camera. The evaluation and control unit then selects the beverage preparation program corresponding to the product identifier 24. In this way, optimum operating parameters can be set for each beverage to be produced.

[0102] Alternatively, the cartridge 2 comprises only the code described above as product identifier 24, which then also represents the identification means 20. In this case, the cartridge in particular does not have the annular identification element 21 shown in FIG. 2.

[0103] FIGS. 4a to 4c show the basic principle of the method for producing a beverage with the cartridge system 1 inserted in a beverage preparation machine 3, in order to illustrate once again the general operating principle of the actual beverage production of the system according to the invention.

[0104] The present system comprises the beverage preparation machine 3 (illustrated only schematically), into which exchangeable cartridge systems 1 are insertable. Each cartridge system 1 has a cartridge 2, which is filled with a particular beverage substance 7, and a cartridge receptacle 10 connected to the cartridge 2. Within the beverage preparation machine 3, a corresponding beverage is created with the aid of the beverage substance 7 and an additional water source, referred to as fluid source 41 in the following text. The cartridge 2 is in this case preferably filled with a pre-portioned quantity of beverage substance 7 which is necessary for creating a specific drinking portion, for example a drinking glass filling of the desired beverage. In particular a plurality of different cartridge systems 1 are available, the cartridges 2 or reservoirs 6 of which are filled with different beverage substances 7 for producing different beverages. When the user of the system 1 wishes to drink a particular beverage, all he needs to do is choose, from the plurality of different cartridge systems 1, that cartridge system 1 which contains the corresponding beverage substance 7 for producing the desired beverage, insert it into a retaining unit 90 of the beverage preparation machine 3 and if appropriate start the beverage production process at the beverage preparation machine 3, for example by pressing a start button, by touching a touch sensitive display in an appropriate manner, by gesture or voice control, or by means of a suitable application on a cell phone. It is also conceivable for the beverage production process to start automatically when the insertion of a new cartridge system 1 into the retaining unit 90 is detected. In each of the abovementioned cases, the desired beverage is then produced automatically, conveyed into a drinking vessel and thus provided to the user. Subsequently, the used-up cartridge system 1 is removed and disposed of. The beverage preparation machine 3 is now ready once again to be filled with any desired new cartridge system 1 in order to produce a further beverage.

[0105] The beverage substance 7 comprises preferably liquid premixing constituents for soft drinks, such as caffeinated, carbonated, fruity and/or sugary sodas and juices, beer (mixed) drinks, or other alcoholic or nonalcoholic (mixed) drinks.

[0106] The cartridge 2 is produced in particular from plastic and by an injection blow-molding process. The cartridge 2 also has a cartridge opening 63 through which the reservoir 6 is filled with the liquid beverage substance 7. The bottom of the reservoir 6 is configured in a funnel-shaped manner in the example in, wherein the cartridge opening 63 is arranged in the center of the funnel-shaped bottom. The cartridge 2 is connected fixedly or reversibly to a cartridge receptacle 10 according to the invention. The cartridge receptacle 10 is in particular connected to the cartridge 2 by means of a latching connection 50 in the region of the cartridge opening 63 after the filling of the cartridge 2. To this end, the cartridge receptacle 10 has for example lateral latching elements 51 in the form of elastic retaining arms or a circumferential latching strip 51 (FIG. 5) which engages around one or two circumferential retaining flanges 52 of the cartridge 2 that are arranged in the region of the cartridge opening 63. The cartridge receptacle 10 is clip-fastened onto the cartridge 2 after the filling of the cartridge 2.

[0107] The cartridge receptacle 10 has a mixing chamber 8 which is fluidically connected to the reservoir 6 during the beverage production process, such that, with the aid of a cartridge emptying device 34 of the cartridge receptacle 10, the beverage substance 7 can be transferred at least partially out of the reservoir 6 into the mixing chamber 8. The cartridge emptying device 34 to this end comprises a compressed-air line 40. One end of the compressed-air line 40 is connected to a compressed-air connection 42 which can be connected to a compressed-air source 41 of the beverage preparation machine 3 in order to introduce compressed air into the compressed-air line 40, while the other end leads into a compressed-air outlet 43 which is open in the direction of the reservoir 6 and introduces compressed air into the reservoir 6. The compressed-air source 41 further preferably comprises an air-feed pump that is turned on during the beverage production process and pumps ambient air into the compressed-air line 40 toward the reservoir 6.

[0108] A fluid feed 12 of the cartridge receptacle 10, which is supplied by a fluid source 91 of the beverage preparation machine 3, also leads into the mixing chamber 8. It is conceivable for the fluid feed 12 to have a quick coupling, by way of which the fluid feed 12 can be connected to the fluid source 91 of the beverage preparation machine 3. The fluid source 91 further preferably comprises a fluid feed pump that is turned on during the beverage production process. The quick coupling can be configured for example such that, when the cartridge system 1 is inserted into the retaining unit 90, a fluidic connection is automatically established between the fluid source 91 and the mixing chamber 8 via the fluid feed 12. During the beverage production process, fluid, in particular cooled and carbonated drinking water, passes from the fluid feed 12 into the mixing chamber 8 via this fluidic connection. Furthermore, during the beverage production process, beverage substance 7 passes from the reservoir 6 into the mixing chamber 8, as described above. As a result of the beverage substance 7 being blended with the fluid in the mixing chamber 8, the beverage is formed, which then leaves the mixing chamber 8 through a beverage outlet 11.

[0109] The cartridge receptacle 10 has the beverage outlet 11, through which the beverage produced within the mixing chamber 8 leaves the mixing chamber 8, and is conveyed in particular directly into the drinking vessel (not depicted), i.e. without parts of the beverage preparation machine 3 coming into contact with the beverage. In this way, back-contamination of the beverage preparation machine 3 is prevented. The drinking vessel is arranged in particular directly beneath the beverage outlet 11.

[0110] Following completion of the beverage production process, the cartridge system 1 is removed from the retaining unit 90, such that the beverage production machine 3 can be fitted with a new and unused cartridge system 1. The cartridge receptacle 10 can be reused by being separated from the used cartridge 2 and being clip-fastened onto a new cartridge 2.

[0111] The cartridge receptacle 10 has a spike guide 80 in which a piercing spike 73 is mounted in a displaceable manner. The sealing element 18 is perforated by the displaceable piercing spike 73 being transferred between a retracted position, in which the piercing spike 73 is away from the sealing element 18 (cf. FIG. 4b), and an extended position, in which the piercing spike 73 pierces the sealing element 18 (cf. FIG. 4c) and projects into the cartridge opening 63 or into the reservoir 6.

[0112] The outer wall of the piercing spike 73 is provided with the plurality of lateral channels 71 for conveying the beverage substance 7 from the reservoir 6 in the direction of the mixing chamber 8 when the sealing element 18 is pierced. The lateral channels are configured in the form of grooves that are open on one side and extend parallel to one another. Following the piercing of the sealing element 18, the lateral channels become fluidically connected to the reservoir 6, such that the beverage substance 7 can flow around the edges of the pierced sealing element 18 in the direction of the mixing chamber 8.

[0113] The cross section of the lateral channels and/or the number of the lateral channels is in this case preferably adapted to the viscosity of the beverage substance 7, such that the lateral channels control or limit the flow of the beverage substance 7 in the direction of the mixing chamber 8. At a high viscosity, a plurality of lateral channels and/or lateral channels with a relatively large cross section are used, while, at a lower viscosity, fewer lateral channels and/or lateral channels with a smaller cross section are provided.

[0114] Furthermore integrated into the piercing spike 73 is the compressed-air line 40, which acts as the cartridge emptying device 34. The compressed-air line 40 leads into the cartridge opening 63 through a fixed compressed-air tip at the end of the piercing spike 73 when the piercing spike 73 is in the extended position. The compressed-air tip thus projects automatically into the cartridge opening 63 when the piercing spike 73 has been shifted into the extended position and has consequently pierced the sealing element 18.

[0115] On a side of the piercing spike 73 that is in particular remote from the reservoir 6, the compressed-air connection 42 is formed, which is thus accessible from outside the cartridge receptacle 10 and is connectable to the compressed-air source 41 of the beverage preparation machine 3. Preferably, the piercing spike 73 is transferred from the retracted position into the extended position during or after the insertion of the cartridge system 10 into the beverage preparation machine 3 or after the starting of the beverage production process, preferably by a fixed release element of the retaining unit 90, against which the piercing spike 73 is pushed, especially when lowering the cartridge during a handling step (see below).

[0116] Provision is preferably made for both the fluid source 91 and the compressed-air source 41 to be coupled directly to the fluid feed 12 and to the compressed-air connection 42, respectively, as soon as the cartridge system 1 is inserted into the beverage preparation machine 3 or a beverage production process is started, and in particular before the sealing element 18 is pierced. It would be conceivable that in this way, back-contamination in the direction of the beverage preparation machine 3 is effectively avoided because the fluid feed 12 and the cartridge emptying device 34 as an option are immediately under overpressure upon insertion of the cartridge system 1, and this prevents the beverage substance 7 from traveling in the direction of the fluid source 91 and compressed-air source 41, respectively. The beverage substance 7 can thus move only in the direction of the mixing chamber 8 from the reservoir 6 as soon as the sealing element 18 is opened. Preferably, however, the pressure in the fluid line is not built up until the fluid feed pump is switched on and the pressure in the compressed-air line is not built up until the air feed pump is switched on, which only takes place after the cartridge system has been successfully authenticated using the identification means by the evaluation and control unit.

[0117] The retaining unit 90 has in particular a fastening flange (see FIG. 3) which engages around the cartridge receptacle 10 in a form-fitting manner after it has been inserted into the retaining unit 90. The retaining unit 90 is preferably manually operable, for example via an operating lever 120. When a user actuates the operating lever 120, the cartridge receptacle 10 is moved relative to the beverage preparation machine 3 such that the outer end of the piercing spike 73 is pushed against a fixed release element (not illustrated) of the retaining unit 90, with the result that the piercing spike 73 moves from the retracted position into the extended position and perforates the sealing element.

[0118] The cartridge receptacle 10 has, on both sides, an at least partially circumferential latching strip by way of which the cartridge receptacle 10 is clip-fastened onto the retaining flanges 52 of the cartridge 2. Furthermore, the cartridge receptacle 10 has a mixing chamber 8, on the rear side of which the fluid feed 12 is formed in the form of a simple passage opening in the wall of the cartridge receptacle 10. On the front side, the beverage outlet 11 is formed in the bottom of the mixing chamber 8. The bottom of the mixing chamber 8 forms, in the direction of the beverage outlet 11, a continuously deepening recess such that, following completion of the beverage production process, no liquid residues remain in the mixing chamber 8. Moreover, the spike guide 80 can be seen virtually centrally within the mixing chamber 8 in FIG. 5.

[0119] The spike guide 80 comprises a guide part with an internal guide channel 110 in which the piercing spike 73 is accommodated in a displaceable manner. The guide channel 110 is formed in a substantially cylindrical manner and protrudes virtually perpendicularly from the bottom of the mixing chamber 8 in the direction of the cartridge 2. Formed at an end of the guide part that faces the cartridge 2 is a circumferential stop with a reduced diameter, against which the circumferential shoulder of the piercing spike 73 butts when the piercing spike 73 arrives in the extended position. The stop thus limits the movement of the piercing spike 73 in the direction of the reservoir 6. Optionally, mixing structures are arranged on the bottom of the mixing chamber 8.

[0120] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the cartridge system 1 according to further exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The cartridge system 1 shown corresponds to the cartridge system 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with only alternative examples being shown as identification means 20. Otherwise, all of the foregoing explanations apply analogously.

[0121] Thus, according to FIG. 5, the identification means 20 can be configured as a circumferential coating on the outer wall of the cartridge 2 or the cartridge receptacle 10. Furthermore, the identification means 20 can be provided as a non-circumferential coating on the outer wall of the cartridge receptacle 10 in the region of the beverage outlet 11. The identification means 20 can be read out via corresponding adapted contact elements 23.

[0122] Furthermore, the identification means 20 may be configured in the form of an identification element 21 arranged within the reservoirs 6. It is conceivable for the identification element 21 to be freely movable there or attached to the inner wall of the cartridge 2. This identification element 21 can then be read optically (in the case of a transparent beverage substance 7 and/or cartridge wall) or electromagnetically (if the identification element 21 is an RFID chip, for example) or purely magnetically (if the identification element 21 comprises a permanent magnet or a magnetic material).

[0123] FIGS. 6a and 6b again show in detail the reading of the identification means 20 and the product identifier 24, respectively, of the system according to the invention. The cartridge 1 comprises the identification means 20 (also referred to as product identifier 24) in its flattened area 38 facing the housing of the beverage preparation machine 3. The identification means 20 (or the product identifier 24) thereby preferably comprises a code, for example a marker, a pattern, a lettering, an image, a logo, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, a bitcode, a QR code, a data matrix code, a color code and/or a hologram code, in which information about the cartridge system 1 and/or the beverage substance present in the reservoir 6 is embedded. On the opposite side, an identifier detector 39 in the form of an optical camera, in particular a CCD camera, is arranged on the housing of the beverage preparation machine 3.

[0124] The code is detected by the optical camera and evaluated by an evaluation unit of the beverage preparation machine 3. In this way, the beverage preparation machine 3 recognizes or verifies whether it is an authenticated (thus, system-specific) cartridge system 1 and/or which type of cartridge 1 and/or beverage substance 7 is involved in the cartridge system 1 inserted in the retainer 24.

[0125] Based on this information, information about the preparation of the beverage using the beverage substance contained in the cartridge 1 can be loaded from an internal memory of the beverage preparation machine 3, if necessary. In particular, set values for the temporal and absolute course of the volume flow, the temperature, the pressure and/or the carbonation of the fed water or the temporal and absolute course of the volume flow and/or the pressure of the fed compressed air are specified hereby. It is also conceivable for the ratio between the volumetric flow rate of the diluent and the volumetric flow rate of the compressed air to be controlled as a function of the verified product identifier 24, in order to achieve the optimum result in terms of appearance and taste in the produced beverage for the particular cartridge type. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the aforementioned operating parameters to be embedded in the code and taken directly from the code to control the beverage production process accordingly.

[0126] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the beverage preparation machine 3 illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the cartridge system 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 is inserted. The representation corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, with the identification means 20 now being integrated into the beverage substance 7, which is located in the reservoir 6. The contact elements 23 pierce the cartridge wall in the region of the reservoir to come into contact with the beverage substance 7. The electrical conductivity of the beverage substance 7 is then measured via the contact elements 23 and the identification means 20 is thus evaluated. The measured electrical conductivity is then used to determine the cartridge type and start the corresponding beverage preparation program.

[0127] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the individual steps of the method according to the invention for producing a beverage, in particular with a beverage preparation machine and a system as explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4a to 4c, 6a, 6b.

[0128] The cartridge system 1 is thereby exemplarily provided with an identification means 20 only in the form of a code, for example a marker, a pattern, a lettering, an image, a logo, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, a bitcode, a QR code, a data matrix code, a color code and/or a hologram code, or an identification means 20 in the form of an identification element 21.

[0129] In the first method step 201, the cartridge system 1 is manually inserted by a user into the beverage preparation machine 3, wherein the cartridge receptacle 10 is inserted into the corresponding retaining unit 90 of the beverage preparation machine.

[0130] In a subsequent handling step 205, the operating lever 120 is actuated by the user, whereby the release mechanism is actuated and a fastening flange of the retaining unit 90 engages around the cartridge receptacle 10 in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner. The cartridge system 1 is thereby moved transversely relative to the retaining unit 90, whereby the piercing spike 73 of the cartridge receptacle 10 is moved relative to a stationary release element of the retaining unit 90. The piercing spike 73 is thereby displaced from its retracted position to its extended position, thereby piercing the sealing element 18 and protruding into the reservoir 6. Furthermore, in handling step 205, this establishes a compressed-air connection between the compressed-air source of the beverage preparation machine 3 and the compressed-air connection of the cartridge receptacle 10 (this does not mean that compressed air is already blown into the reservoir 6, but only that the corresponding lines or connections are interconnected).

[0131] Furthermore, in handling step 205, a fluid connection is additionally established between a fluid source of the beverage preparation machine 3 and the fluid feed of the cartridge receptacle 10 (this does not mean that fluid is already flowing towards the mixing chamber 8, but only that the corresponding lines or connections are interconnected).

[0132] Alternatively, it is conceivable for the activation of the release mechanism not to be manual, but motor-driven by a corresponding actuator controlled by the control unit.

[0133] Subsequently, in a second method step 202, the code on the cartridge 2 is optically read by the identifier detector 39 or, alternatively, the identification means 21 is contacted by the contact element for measuring the identification means 21.

[0134] In the second method step 202, an evaluation and control unit (also referred to as a control unit) 203 of the beverage preparation machine 3 uses the detected code or read-out identification element 21 to check whether the cartridge system 1 used is a system-specific and known, thus authenticated, cartridge system 1. For this purpose, the read-out code or identification means 20 is compared with a corresponding reference or it is checked whether operating parameters can be extracted or assigned from the read-out code or identification means 20. If this check is positive, the cartridge system 1 is considered authenticated.

[0135] If an authenticated cartridge system 1 has been detected in the second method step, the beverage production process is started in a third method step 204.

[0136] The beverage preparation process includes a first preparation step 206 in which a fluid feed pump of the beverage preparation machine is first started by the evaluation and control unit 203, which feeds the fluid from a fluid tank (in particular, a removable water tank) through a heat exchanger to cool the fluid and through a flow-through carbonator to carbonate the cooled fluid into the mixing chamber of the cartridge receptacle 10.

[0137] In particular, after waiting for a period of time between 1 millisecond and 2 seconds, preferably between 100 milliseconds and 1.5 seconds, and particularly preferably from 500 milliseconds to 1 second after switching on the fluid feed pump, in a second preparation step 207 the air feed pump of the beverage preparation machine 3 is switched on by the evaluation and control unit 203, which draws in ambient air through an air inlet and pumps it through the compressed air line 40 as compressed air into the reservoir 6.

[0138] It is conceivable for the starting time, stopping time, running time and/or feed rate of the fluid feed pump and/or the air feed pump and/or the time period to be waited between the start of the fluid feed pump and the air feed pump to be read out as operating parameters from the code or the identification means 20, and for the evaluation and control unit 203 to control the first and second preparation steps 206 and 207 accordingly.

[0139] By feeding the compressed air into the reservoir 6, in a third preparation step 208, the beverage substance 7 is then transferred from the reservoir 6 into the mixing chamber 8 and mixed there with the fluid, whereby the beverage is formed in the mixing chamber, which is dispensed from the mixing chamber 8 via the beverage outlet 11 into a drinking vessel.

[0140] As an alternative to the sequence described above, the handling step 205 can be carried out instead of between the first and second method steps 201 and 202 as the zeroth preparation step 209 as part of the beverage preparation process. This has the advantage that opening of the cartridge system 1 by means of the release element does not take place until the cartridge system 1 has been authenticated by the evaluation and control unit 203 on the basis of the code or identification means 20.

[0141] After the third preparation step 208 has been completed, the air feed pump and the fluid feed pump are stopped simultaneously or successively, preferably first the air feed pump and then the fluid feed pump being switched off. Thereafter, the release mechanism can be released manually via the operating lever or motorized or returned to its initial position so that the used capsule system 1 can be removed from the retaining unit 90. The beverage preparation machine 3 is now ready for a new cycle, which in turn starts with the first method step 201.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0142] 1 Cartridge system [0143] 2 Cartridge [0144] 3 Beverage preparation machine [0145] 6 Reservoir [0146] 7 Beverage substance [0147] 8 Mixing chamber [0148] 10 Cartridge receptacle [0149] 11 Beverage outlet [0150] 12 Fluid feed [0151] 18 Sealing element [0152] 20, 24 Identification means [0153] 21 Identification element [0154] 22 Coating [0155] 23 Contact elements [0156] 24 Product identifier [0157] 34 Cartridge emptying device [0158] 39 Identifier detector [0159] 40 Compressed-air line [0160] 42 Compressed-air connection [0161] 43 Compressed-air outlet [0162] 52 Retaining flange [0163] 63 Cartridge opening [0164] 73 Piercing spike [0165] 80 Spike guide [0166] 90 Retaining unit [0167] 110 Guide channel [0168] 120 Operating lever