Beverage production device with perforating means and method for extracting a beverage from such device

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage production device for preparing a beverage by means of extracting a food substance contained in a capsule (10), the device comprising capsule enclosing means (29,30) for housing a dedicated capsule (10) within the device, water supply means (25,27,28,29) for providing liquid to the enclosing means (29,30) and perforating means (20) provided within the enclosing means (29,30) for perforating the capsule (10) in order to produce outlet openings in the capsule for guiding the produced beverage out of the capsule, wherein the perforating means comprise at least two perforating members (20), each of the perforating members (20) comprising a cutting edge (1) formed by two outer cutting surfaces (2,3) joined at the cutting edge, wherein the cutting edge (1) is arranged essentially parallel to a central axis (X) of the enclosing means (29,30).

Claims

1. A beverage production device for preparing a beverage by extracting a food substance contained in a capsule, the beverage production device comprising: a capsule enclosing member configured to house the for housing a dedicated capsule within the beverage production devices; a water supply member configured to provide for providing liquid to the capsule enclosing member; and perforating members member provided within the capsule enclosing member and configured to perforate the capsule to produce outlet openings in the capsule for guiding the beverage out of the capsule, each of the perforating members comprising a cutting edge formed by two outer cutting surfaces joined at the cutting edge, the cutting edge is arranged essentially parallel to a vertical central axis of the capsule enclosing member, and the perforating members are arranged such that the cutting edge is directed towards the vertical central axis of the capsule enclosing member; wherein the perforating members each comprise a side essentially opposite of the cutting edge and further comprise a displacement portion designed for displacing a portion of a membrane of the capsule towards the side of the corresponding perforating member upon contact with the membrane; wherein the perforating members each comprise a collecting portion arranged at the side essentially opposite to the cutting edge, and the displacement portion connects a protruding distal portion of the cutting edge with the collecting portion.

2. The beverage production device of claim 1, wherein the capsule enclosing member is arranged to rotate around the vertical central axis for driving the capsule in rotational centrifugation.

3. The beverage production device of claim 1, wherein the two outer cutting surfaces are planar.

4. The beverage production device according to claim 1, wherein the two outer cutting surfaces forming the cutting edge are joined at an angle between 25 and 100°.

5. The beverage production device according to claim 1, wherein the perforating members each comprise a base portion and member comprises the collecting portion extending from the a-base portion of the perforating member to a first height smaller than the-a second height to which the cutting edge extends from the base portion.

6. The beverage production device according to claim 5, wherein the collecting portion is formed by a curved outer surface or at least two joint surfaces.

7. The beverage production device according to claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the collecting portion encloses an angle of between 2 to 45° with the central axis of the capsule enclosing member.

8. The beverage production device according to claim 5, wherein an outer surface of the collecting portion has a shape selected from the group consisting of circular, ellipsoidal, and polygonal.

9. The beverage production device according to claim 1, wherein the perforating members are distributed regularly in an off-centered arrangement about the central axis of the capsule enclosing member.

10. The beverage production device according to claim 1, wherein a first perforating member of the perforating members comprises a pressure release member comprising at least one recess essentially parallel to the cutting edge of the first perforating member.

11. The beverage production device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one recess has a diameter selected from the group consisting of (i) constant throughout extension of the at least one recess through the first perforating member, (ii) that increases from a base portion of the first perforating member towards a distal portion of the first perforating member, and (iii) that decreases from the base portion towards the distal portion of the first perforating member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the beverage preparation device according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the beverage preparation device according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of perforating means of the beverage preparation device.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of a single perforating member of the perforating means according to the invention.

(6) FIGS. 5a to 5c are schematic top views of preferred embodiments of a perforating member.

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the perforating member according to FIG. 5a.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of a perforating member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(9) FIG. 1 refers to a system comprising a beverage preparation device 50 according to the invention that comprises a module 41 into which a capsule 10 of the system can be inserted (see FIG. 2). The capsule 10 contains a food substance such as e.g. ground coffee. A suitable capsule for the system is disclosed in WO2010/066736. The capsule is rotational symmetric about a centre axis Y thereof.

(10) The module 41 of the beverage preparation device is in fluid communication with a water supply such as a water reservoir 25. A fluid transport means such as a pump 26 is provided in the fluid circuit 27 between the module 41 and the water supply 25. A water heater 28 is further provided to heat water in the fluid circuit 27 before water enters the module 41. The water heater 28 can be inserted in the fluid circuit 27 to heat fresh water coming from the reservoir 25 or alternatively can be in the water reservoir that becomes a water boiler in such case. Water may also be taken directly from a domestic water supply via a water plug connection.

(11) The water can be fed in the module 41 at low pressure or even at gravity pressure. For example, a pressure of between 0 and 2 bar above atmospheric pressure can be envisaged at the water inlet 35 of the module.

(12) The brewing module 41 of the beverage preparation device 50 comprises enclosing means 29, 30. Thereby, the enclosing means 29, 30 comprise a water injection subassembly or water injection head 29 and a liquid receiving subassembly 30 including a capsule holder in which the capsule 10 may be placed by means of a user (see FIG. 2). The enclosing means 29, 30 are designed for forming positioning and centering means for the capsule 10 in the beverage preparation device 50.

(13) The two enclosing means 29, 30 are designed for being movable relative to each other in order to assume a capsule insertion position (not shown) in which a user may provide the capsule to the receiving subassembly 30 and a capsule enclosing position (shown in FIG. 2) in which the water injection subassembly connects to an upper wall or membrane 11 of the capsule 10.

(14) The liquid receiving subassembly 30 comprises a liquid duct 32, for example, protruding on a side of the subassembly for guiding the centrifuged liquid coming out of the capsule 10 to a receptacle such as a cup or glass.

(15) As show in FIG. 2, the liquid duct 32 is in communication with a liquid receiver 33 forming a cylindrical wall placed at a short distance about a capsule holder formed by a rotating drum 34 into which the capsule 10 is inserted. The liquid receiver defines with the drum 34 an intermediate cavity 63 for collecting beverage being drained from the capsule 10. Below the liquid receiving subassembly 30, driving means 40 for driving the capsule receiving drum 34 in rotation inside the subassembly about a central axis X of the enclosing means 29, 30 are provided. It is noted that when being placed within the device, the central axis Y of the capsule 10 coincides with the central axis X of the enclosing means 29, 30. It should be noticed that the central axis may not necessary be oriented vertically but may be slightly inclined relative to vertical.

(16) The water injection subassembly 29 comprises a water inlet side comprising a water inlet 35 communicating upstream with the water fluid circuit 27.

(17) The rotary drum 34 is preferably shaped as a hollow capsule holder with an internal cavity complementary shaped to receive the capsule 10. The rotary drum 34 prolongs itself axially by a rotating shaft 37 which is maintained in rotational relationship relative to an outer base 38 of the liquid receiver 33 by a rotational guiding means 39 like a ball bearing or needle bearing. The rotary drum 34 is thus designed to rotate around the central axis X, whereas the outer base 38 of the receiver is fixed relative to the device. The liquid receiver 33 can be fixed to a housing 43 of the motor by bolts 44 for example.

(18) The water injection subassembly 29 comprises a centrally arranged water injector 45 which is fixed relative to central axis X of the device. The water injector comprises a central tubular member 46 for transporting water from the inlet 35 to a water outlet 47 that is intended to protrude inside the enclosure of the capsule 10. Thereby, a distal end of the water outlet 47 is preferably formed as puncturing means such as a sharp tubular tip that is able to create a central inlet aperture through the upper membrane 11 of the capsule 10.

(19) About the water injector 45 is mounted a capsule rotary engaging part 49. The engaging part 49 preferably comprises perforating means 20 which protrude from a disc-shaped engaging member 49a (see FIG. 3) into an interior of the device, enclosed by engaging means 29, 30. The disc-shaped engaging member 49a may be integrally formed with the engaging part 49 or may be designed to be selectively connectable to said engaging part 49.

(20) The perforating means 20 are preferably orientated to perforate an upper membrane 11 of the capsule 10 in the capsule enclosing position of the enclosing means 29, 30. Thereby, the perforating means 20 are preferably arranged to provide several openings in the capsule 10 for the centrifuged liquid to leave the capsule forming several streams of liquid that are then collected in the intermediate cavity 63.

(21) The perforating means 20 preferably comprise at least two perforating members 20. In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the perforating means comprise a multitude of perforating members 20 arranged about the central axis X of enclosing means 29, 30. The perforating members 20 are arranged radially outside of the centre axis X of the enclosing means 29, 30 and protrude from the disc-shaped engaging member 49a.

(22) Each of the perforating members comprises a cutting edge 1, whereby the perforating members 20 are arranged such that the cutting edge 1 is directed towards the centre respectively towards the rotational axis X.

(23) The cutting edge 1 of each of the perforating members 20 is arranged essentially parallel to the centre axis X. Accordingly, when the capsule 10 is placed in the beverage preparation device, the cutting edge 1 is also arranged essentially in parallel to the centre axis Y of the capsule 10.

(24) The cutting edge 1 is formed by two cutting surfaces 2,3 which are preferably planar and enclose an angle of a of between 80 and 100°, preferably between 85 and 95°, more preferably between 88 and 92° when seen in top view as shown e.g. in FIG. 5a.

(25) The cutting surfaces 2,3 extend from the cutting edge 1 to a width b1, b2 which is preferably equal. Thereby, the width b1, b2 is preferably between 0.5 and 5 mm, more preferably between 1 and 4 mm.

(26) The perforating member 20 further comprise a displacement portion 4 designed for displacing a portion of a membrane 11 of the capsule 10 towards a side of the perforating member 20 essentially opposite of the cutting edge 1 upon contact with the membrane 11.

(27) As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the displacement portion 4 is arranged to connect a protruding distal portion 20b of the cutting edge 1 with a collecting portion 5 of the perforating member 20.

(28) Preferably, the displacement portion 4 is a planar surface arranged at an acute angle γ of between 5 to 45°, preferably between 10 to 25°, more preferably between 15 to 20° relative to the cutting edge 1.

(29) The collecting portion 5 is arranged at the essentially opposite side of the perforating member 20 with respect to the cutting edge 1.

(30) The collecting portion 5 may be formed by an outwardly convex outer surface 5a as shown in FIG. 5c or by at least two joint surfaces 5a, 5b as indicated in FIGS. 5a, 5b. Thereby, the two joint surfaces 5a, 5b enclose an angle δ which is preferably 90° as indicated in FIG. 5a. In another preferred embodiment, the angle δ is preferably between 65 and 120°, more preferably between 80 and 100° (see e.g. FIG. 5b).

(31) The outer surface 5a, 5b, 5c of the collecting portion 5 encloses an angle β of between 2 to 20°, more preferably 5 to 15° with the central axis X of the enclosing member 29, 30.

(32) The perforating member 20 extends to a height h1 from its base portion 20a connected to the disc-shaped engaging member 49a into the interior of the enclosing means 29, 30. The height h1 is preferably between 2 and 15 mm, more preferably between 3 and 12 mm. Thereby, the cutting edge 1 extends from the base portion 20a to a distal portion 20b of the perforating member 20.

(33) The collecting portion 5 which is arranged preferably essentially opposite to the cutting edge 1 extends from the base portion 20 to a height h2 which preferably lies between 0.5 and 10 mm, more preferably between 1 and 7 mm.

(34) The diameter d of the perforating member 20 as indicated in sectional side view of FIG. 6 preferably lies between 1 and 6 mm, more preferably between 2 and 5 mm.

(35) Optionally, the perforating member 20 comprises pressure release means 7 that extend from the base portion 20a of the perforating member 20 towards the displacement portion 4.

(36) The pressure release means is preferably at least one recess formed essentially parallel to the cutting edge 1 of the perforating member 20. Thereby, the pressure release means is preferably formed in the outer surface 5a, 5b, 5c of the collecting portion 5. Accordingly, the pressure release means preferably extend from the base portion 20a of the perforating member 20 to the vicinity of the joint surface of the collecting portion 5 and the displacement portion 4.

(37) The recess 7 forming the pressure release means may be of semicircular or rectangular shape when seen in top view. Thereby, the diameter of the recess 7 d1 may be constant throughout the extension of the recess through the perforating member 20. The diameter d1 may as well increase or decrease from the base portion 20a towards the distal portion 20b of the perforating member 20. The recess 7 may as well be chamfered at the portion of intersection with the displacement portion 4 as indicated by the dotted lines 7a in FIG. 7.

(38) The perforating member 20 is preferably provided with two pressure release means 7 as shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, 7. However, in another preferred embodiment, the perforating member 20 may comprise at least two or three recesses formed in the vicinity of the displacement portion 4.

(39) Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims. For example, the invention can apply to a method in which the capsule is not rotated around the centre axis but liquid is forced through the capsule via fluidic forces exerted solely by a pump and/or gravity.