U.S. patent application number 09/732079 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-03 for method, system and apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption, such as coffee.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sara Lee/De N.V., Sara Lee/De N.V.. Invention is credited to Aarts, Mathias Leonardus Cornelis.
Application Number | 20010000570 09/732079 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26642419 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aarts, Mathias Leonardus
Cornelis |
May 3, 2001 |
Method, system and apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for
consumption, such as coffee
Abstract
The method for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption
such as coffee comprises the following steps: a vacuum pack made
from a thin-walled and flexible packing sheet is placed in a holder
which, in use, tightly encloses the vacuum pack at least partially,
the vacuum pack being filled with the granular material and
comprising a closing seam interconnecting opposite parts of the
packing sheet; a free end of at least one needle-shaped tube is
introduced into the inner space of the vacuum pack; and via the
needle-shaped tube, a liquid is fed under pressure to the inner
space of the vacuum pack, so that under the influence of the liquid
pressure in the vacuum pack, this closing seam opens at least
partially, with the beverage formed in the vacuum pack flowing out
of the vacuum pack via the opening. The invention also relates to
an apparatus for performing the method.
Inventors: |
Aarts, Mathias Leonardus
Cornelis; (Bilthoven, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD
P O BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Assignee: |
Sara Lee/De N.V.
Keulsekade 143
Utrecht
NL
3532 AA
|
Family ID: |
26642419 |
Appl. No.: |
09/732079 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09732079 |
Dec 7, 2000 |
|
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08903895 |
Jul 31, 1997 |
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6186051 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/295 ; 426/433;
426/435; 426/77; 426/78; 426/79; 426/84; 99/287; 99/304;
99/306 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/3695 20130101;
A47J 31/0668 20130101; A47J 31/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
99/295 ; 426/433;
426/435; 426/77; 426/78; 426/79; 426/84; 99/304; 99/306;
99/287 |
International
Class: |
A23F 005/24; A23L
001/28; A47J 031/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 1996 |
NL |
1003716 |
Claims
1. A method for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption such
as coffee, wherein a liquid and a granular material such a ground
coffee are brought together to produce the beverage, wherein: a
vacuum pack made from a thin-walled and flexible packing sheet in
placed in a holder which, in use, tightly encloses the vacuum pack
at least partially, the vacuum pack being filled with the granular
material and comprising a closing seam interconnecting opposite
parts of the packing sheet; a free end of at least one
needle-shaped tube is introduced into the inner space of the vacuum
pack; and wherein via the needle-shaped tube, a liquid is fed under
pressure to the inner space of the vacuum pack, so that under the
influence of the liquid pressure in the vacuum pack, said closing
seam opens at least partially, with the beverage formed in the
vacuum pack flowing out of the vacuum pack via the opening.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that opposite
and at least substantially abutting parts of the packing sheet are
pressed towards each other adjacent the closing seam, so that at
least one narrow gap between said parts forms a filter which passes
the beverage and forms a barrier to the granular material.
3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that opposite
parts of the packing sheet adjacent the closing seam are attached
to each other at a number of different positions, so that between
said positions gaps are formed which act as a filter which passes
the beverage and forms a barrier Lo the granular material.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the holder comprises relatively movable
sidewalls that are pressed against the vacuum pack during at least
a portion of the period in which, via the needle-shaped tube, a
liquid is fed to the vacuum pack.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the vacuum pack comprises a rectangular
bottom wall having a first and a second pair of opposite
longitudinal edges, two opposite rectangular vertical sidewalls
extending in upward direction towards each other from the first
pair of longitudinal edges and interconnected at their top sides
via the closing seam, and two opposite, triangular vertical
sidewalls extending in upward direction from the szcond pair of
longitudinal edges; and the holder comprises two opposite vertical
sidewalls, wherein the distance between said sidewalls at a top
side of the holder is greater than the distance between the
sidewalls at a bottom side of the holder, the holder is at its
bottom side provided with an opening, and wherein the vacuum pack
is placed in the holder in such a manner that the bottom wall of
the vacuum pack faces upwards while the closing seam of the vacuum
pack faces downwards.
6. A method according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the
two opposite vertical sidewalls of the holder are relatively
movable and are pressed towards each other during at least a
portion of the period in which, via the needle-shaped tube, liquid
is fed to the inside of the vacuum pack.
7. A method according to claim 4 or 6; characterized in that the
relatively movable sidewalls are rigid sidewalls.
8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the holder
is placed in a flexible envelope, while a fluid pressure is exerted
on the envelope for pressing the rigid sidewalls of the holder
towards each other.
9. A method according to claims 6 and 8, characterized in that the
two opposite vertical sidewalls are resiliently interconnected at
t;heir bottom sides.
10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the iieedle-shaped tube is pricked through
the packing sheet of the vacuum pack for feeding the liquid to the
inner space of the vacuum pack.
11. A method according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that
the needle-shaped tube is pricked through the bottom wall.
12. A system for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption such
as coffee, wherein a liquid and a granular material such as ground
coffee are brought together to produce the beverage, characterized
in that the system comprises at least one vacuum pack that is
manufactured from a thin-walled and flexible packing sheet and has
a closing seam interconnecting opposite parts of the packing sheet,
and is filled with the granular material, and an apparatus
comprising a holder filled with the vacuum pack, liquid-dispensing
means for dispensing the liquid and a needle-shaped tube connected
to the liquid-dispensing means, wherein the system further
comprises filter means and wherein, in use, the holder encloses the
vacuum pack substantially tightly, a free end of the needle-ahaped
tube extends into the vacuum pack via an opening in the vacuum
pack, the liquid-dispensing means supply liquid to the inner space
of the vacuum pack via the needle-shaped tube, the closing seam
opens at least partially under the influence of the liquid pressure
in the vacuum pack, whereupon the beverage formed in the vacuum
pack leaves the vacuum pack via the closing seam and the filter
means.
13. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the
filter means are formed by at least one gap formed between the
opposite sidewalls of the packing sheet.
14. A system according to claim 13, characterized in that the
opposite sidewalls of the vacuum pack are attached to each other at
a number of positions in such a manner that gaps are formed between
said positions.
15. A system according to claim 13, characterized in that the
apparatus comprises opposite clamping means which, in use, press
opposite sidewalls of the vacuum pack towards each other to obtain
a narrow gap between the sidewalls of the vacuum pack.
16. A system according to any one of preceding claims 12-15,
characterized in that the holder comprises relatively movable
sidewalls and pressure means for pressing said sidewalls against
the vacuum pack during at least a portion of the period in which a
liquid is supplied to the vacuum pack via the needle-shaped
tube.
17. A system according to any one of preceding claims 12-16,
characterized in that the vacuum pack comprises a rectangular
bottom wali having a first and a second pair of opposite
longitudinal edges, two opposite rectangular vertical sidewalls
that extenid in upward direction towards each other from the first
pair of longitudinal edges of the bottom wall and are
interconnected at their top sides via the closing seam, and two
opposite vertical triangular sidewalls that extend in upward
direction from the second pair of longitudinal edges; and the
holder comprises two opposite vertical sidewalls wherein the
distance between said sidewalls at a top side of the holder is
greater than the distance between the sidewalls at a bottom side of
the holder, the holder has its bottom side provided with an outlet
opening and wherein the vacuum pack is placed in the holder in such
a manner that the bottom wall of the vacuum pack faces upwards
while the closing seam of the vacuum pack faces downwards.
18. A system according to claims 16 and 17, characterized in that
the two opposite vertical sidewalls of the holder are relatively
movable and are pressed towards each other by means of said means
during at least a portion of the period in which liquid is fed to
the inside of the vacuum pack via the needle-shaped tube.
19. A system according to claim 16 or 18, characterized in that the
relatively movable sidewalls are rigid sidewalls.
20. A system according to claim 19, characterized in that said
pressure means comprise a flexible envelope and at least one fluid
pressure member, wherein the holder is included into the flexible
envelope and whorain, in une, a fluid pressure can be exerted on
the envelope by means of the fluid pressure member for pressing
said rigid sidewalls of the holder towards each other.
21. A system according to claims 18 and 20, characterized in that
the two opposite vertical sidewalls are resiliently interconnected
at their bottom sides.
22. A system according to any one of preceding claims 12-21,
characterized in that the apparatus comprises drive means for
moving the-needle-shaped tube to and fro in its longitudinal
direction relative to the holder, for pricking the free end of the
needle-shaped tube through the packing sheet of the vacuum
pack.
23. A system according to claims 21 and 22, characterized in that
the needle-shaped tube is positioned so that it pricks into the
vacuum pack through the bottom wall thereof.
24. A system according to claims 12-23, characterized in that the
apparatus further comprises a control unit for controlling the
water-dispensing means, clamping means and/or the pressure
means.
25. An apparatus suitable for use in the system according to any
one of preceding claims 12-24.
26. A vacuum pack suitable for use in the system according to one
oL preceding claims 14 or 17.
27. An apparatus comprising a holder for receiving a vacuum pack
made from a thin-walled and flexible packing sheet, which vacuum
pack comprises a closing seam interconnecting opposite parts of the
packing sheet and is filled with the granular material,
liquid-dispensing means for dispensing the liquid and a
needle-shaped tube connected to the liquid-dispensing means,
wherein the holder comprises relatively movable sidewalls and
pressure means for pressing said sidewalls against the vacuum
pack.
28. An apparatus according to claiim 27, characterized in that the
apparatus further comprises drive means for moving the
needle-shaped tube to and fro in its longitudinal direction
relative to the holder.
29. An apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that the
apparatus further comprises a control unit controlling the
liquid-dispensing means, the pressure means and the drive means in
such a manner that, in use, the holder encloses the vacuum pack
substantially tightly, a free end ot the needle-shaped tube is
pricked into the vacuum pack and the liquid-dispensing means feed
liquid to the inner space of the vacuum pack via the needle-shaped
tube, wherein the closing seam at least partially opens under the
influence of the liquid pressure in the vacuum pack, whereupon the
beverage formed in the vacuum pack leaves the vacuum pack vria the
closing seam and the filter means.
30. An apparatus according to any one of claims 27-29,
characterized in that the apparatus further comprises opposite
clamping means for pressing opposite sidewalls of a vacuum pack
contained in the holder towards each other to obtain a narrow gap
between said sidewalls of the vacuum pack.
31. An apparatus according to any one of claimns 27-30,
characterized in that the movable sidewalls of the holder are rigid
sidewalls.
32. An apparatus according to any one of claims 27-31,
characterized in that said pressure means comprise a flexible
envelope and at least one fluid pressure raember, wherein the
holder is included into the flexible envelope and wherein, in use,
a fluid pressure can be exerted on the envelope by means of the
fluid pressure member for pressing the rigid sidewalls of the
holder towards each other.
33. An apparatus according to claim 32, characterized in that the
two opposite vertical sidewalls are resiliently interconnected at
their bottom sides, wherein the distance between said walls
increases in upward direction.
Description
1. The invention relates to a method for preparing a beverage
suitable for consumption, and to a system and apparatus for
carrying out such method.
2. More in particular, the invention relates to a method for
preparing a beverage suitable for consumption such as coffee,
wherein a liquid and a granular material such as ground coffee are
brought together to produce the beverage.
3. Such apparatuses and methods are known per se. In the known
apparatus and method for preparing coffee, for instance ground
coffee is introduced in a bowl-shaped container. This bowl-shaped
container is open at its top side, while in the bottom of the
container a large number of small orifices have been provided.
These small orifices form a barrier to the ground coffee. Next, hot
water is fed under high pressure to the ground coffee via the open
top side. The coffee extract thus formed in the container can leave
the container via the small orifices to be subsequently received in
a cup disposed therebelow.
4. A drawback of this known system is that preparing coffee in this
manner takes up relatively much time. In particular the filling of
the bowl-shaped container with ground coffee costs much time. Also,
it is not guaranteed that the right amount of coffee is included
into the container for obtaining coffee of the desired taste.
Moreover, it is not guaranteed that always the right quality of
coffee is introduced into the container. When the ground coffee has
been stored for a considerable time in for instance a coffee
canister, the aroma may have largely disappeared, so that the
beverage eventually obtained does not meet the highest
requirements. In particular in hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc.,
this involves a substantial drawback. It is an object of the
invention to provide a solution to this problem. It is a particular
object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus suitable
for preparing only one consumption.
5. According to the invention, the method comprises a number of
steps, wherein:
6. a vacuum pack made from a thin-walled and flexible packing sheet
(foil) is placed in a holder which, in use, tightly encloses the
vacuum pack at least partially, the vacuum pack being filled with
the granular material and comprising a closing seam interconnecting
opposite parts of the packing sheet;
7. a free end of at least one needle-shaped tube is introduced into
the inner space of the vacuum pack; and wherein
8. via the needle-shaped tube, a liquid is fed under pressure to
the inner space of the vacuum pack, so that under the influence of
the liquid pressure in the vacuum pack, this closing seam opens at
least partially, with the beverage formed in the vacuum pack
flowing out of the vacuum pack via the opening.
9. As the beverage is made from the granular material contained in
the vacuum pack, it is guaranteed that the granular material is
fresh at all times. The free end of the needle-shaped tube can for
instance be brought into the inner space of the vacuum pack by
pricking it through the flexible packing sheet immediately before
the moment when the consumption is to be prepared. It is also
guaranteed that at all times a proper amount of granular material
is used for preparing the beverage. Indeed, the vacuum pack may
have been manufactured in advance, so that it is determined from
the factory what amount of granular material should be used for
preparing for instance a one-cup consumption.
10. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the vacuum
pack is opened as a result of the liquid pressure in the inner
space of the vacuum pack. This pressure is created by the liquid
that is fed to the inner space of the vacuum pack via the
needle-shaped tube. Thus, a particularly great ease of use is
guaranteed, because a user does not have to open the vacuum pack
with his own hands, with the risk of granular material falling from
the opened vacuum pack.
11. According to a particular aspect of the invention, opposite and
at least substantially abutting parts of the packing sheet are
pressed towards each other adjacent the closing seam, so that at
least one narrow gap between these parts forms a filter which
passes the beverage and forms a barrier to the granular
material.
12. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention,
opposite parts of the packing sheet adjacent the closing seam are
attached to each other at a number of different positions, so that
between these positions gaps are formed which act as a filter which
passes the beverage and forms a barrier to the granular
material.
13. In particular, the holder comprises relatively movable
sidewalls that are pressed against the vacuum pack during at least
a portion of the period in which, via the needle-shaped tube, a
liquid is fed to the vacuum pack. It is thus ensured that it is
possible to create a high pressure in the vacuum pack without
involving the risk of the vacuum pack being blown up. The holder
then provides that the vacuum pack can properly withstand the
internal high pressure.
14. According to a highly advanced embodiment of the method, the
vacuum pack comprises a rectangular bottom wall having a first and
a second pair of opposite longitudinal edges, two opposite
rectangular vertical sidewalls extending in upward direction
towards each other from the first pair of longitudinal edges and
interconnected at their top sides via the closing seam, and two
opposite, triangular vertical sidewalls extending in upward
direction from the second pair of longitudinal edges; and the
holder comprises two opposite vertical sidewalls, wherein the
distance between these sidewalls at a top side of the holder is
greater than the distance between the sidewalls at a bottom side of
the holder, the holder is at its bottom side provided with an
opening, and wherein the vacuum pack is placed in the holder in
such a manner that the bottom wall of the vacuum pack faces upwards
while the closing seam of the vacuum pack faces downwards. In this
embodiment, the needle-shaped tube will preferably be pricked
through the bottom wall of the vacuum pack.
15. A system for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption,
such as coffee, wherein a liquid and a granular material such as
ground coffee are brought together to produce the beverage, is
characterized in that the system comprises at least one vacuum pack
that is manufactured from a thin-walled and flexible packing sheet
and has a closing seam interconnecting opposite parts of the
packing sheet, and is filled with the granular material, and an
apparatus comprising a holder filled with the vacuum pack,
liquid-dispensing means for dispensing the liquid and a
needle-shaped tube connected to the liquid-dispensing means,
wherein the system further comprises filter means and wherein, in
use, the holder encloses the vacuum pack substantially tightly, a
free end of the needle-shaped tube extends into the vacuum pack via
all opening in the vacuum pack, the liquid-dispensing means supply
liquid to the inner space of the vacuum pack via the needle-shaped
tube, the closing seam opens at least partially under the influence
of the liquid pressure in the vacuum pack, whereupon the beverage
formed in the vacuum pack leaves the vacuum pack via the closing
seam and the filter means.
16. The invention further relates to an apparatus comprising a
holder for receiving a vacuum pack made from a thin-walled and
flexible packing sheet, which vacuum pack comprises a closing seam
interconnecting opposite parts of the packing sheet and is filled
with the granular material, liquid-dispensing means for dispensing
the liquid and a needle-shaped tube connected to the
liquid-dispensing means, wherein, the holder comprises relatively
movable sidewalls and pressure means for pressing these sidewalls
against the vacuum pack.
17. The invention will now be specified with reference to the
accompanying drawings. In these drawings:
18. FIG. 1A shows, in perspective, a possible embodiment of a
vacuum pack according to the invention;
19. FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the vacuum pack according to FIG.
1A;
20. FIG. 2 shows a possible embodiment of a system and an apparatus
according to the invention for performing a method according to the
invention;
21. FIG. 3A shows, in perspective, a second possible embodiment of
a vacuum pack according to the invention;
22. FIG. 3B shows a portion of a side elevation, in transparent
view, of the vacuum pack according to FIG. 3A;
23. FIG. 4A shows a holder of an alternative embodiment of the
apparatus according to FIG. 2;
24. FIG. 4B shows a flexible envelope in which the holder according
to FIG. 1A in the alternative embodiment according to FIG. 2 is
placed;
25. FIG. 4C shows the rigid housing in which the flexible envelope
of FIG. 4B in the alternative embodiment according to FIG. 4B is
placed; and
26. FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a system and an
apparatus according to the invention for performing a method
according to the invention.
27. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a possible embodiment of a vacuum pack is
shown by reference numeral 1. The vacuum pack 1 is made from a
flexible packing sheet (foil) 2 and is in this example filled with
ground coffee 4. The vacuum pack 1 comprises a rectangular bottom
wall 6 having a first pair 8 and a second pair 1l of opposite
longitudinal edges. The vacuum pack further comprises two opposite
rectangular vertical sidewalls 12, extending towards each other in
upward direction from the first pair of longitudinal edges 8. At
their top sides, the vertical sidewalls 12 are interconnected via a
closing seam 14. This closing seam 14 can for instance be provided
through heat-sealing. The vacuum pack further comprises two
opposite triangular vertical sidewalls 16 extending in upward
direction from the second pair of longitudinal edges 10.
28. FIG. 2 shows a system 18 comprising the vacuum pack according
to FIGS. 1A and 1B and an apparatus 20 in which the vacuum pack 1
is included for the preparation of, in thin case, one cup of
coffee.
29. The apparatus comprises a holder 22 filled with the vacuum pack
1. The apparatus further comprises liquid-dispensing means for
dispensing liquid. In this case, the liquid-dispensing means
dispense under high pressure, of for instance 2-6 atm hot water to
a conduit 28 via an outlet 26. In this example, the conduit 28 is
manufactured from a flexible material. The conduit 28 feeds the hot
water to a needle-shaped tube 30.
30. The apparatus further comprises drive means 32 for moving the
needle-shaped tube 30 to and fro in its longitudinal direction
relative to the holder 22. In this example, the holder 22 is of
funnel-shaped design so that the sidewalls of the holder tightly
enclose the vacuum pack when the vacuum pack is positioned upside
down in the holder (see also FIG. 2). The holder has its top side
provided with a rigid sidewall 34 which is movable relative to the
other rigid sidewalls of the holder 22. For this purpose, the
sidewall 34 is connected to a drive mechanism 38 by means of a
shaft 36. By means of the drive mechanism 30, the sidewall 34 can
be moved up and down. Provided in the sidewall 34 is an opening 40,
enabling the needle-shaped tube 30 to extend through this opening
into the inner space of the holder 22 and, accordingly, into the
inner space of the vacuum pack 1. Further, at the bottom side of
the holder 22, a slotted outlet opening 42 is provided, through
which the flap-shaped top end 44 of the vacuum pack reaches
outside. As can best be seen in FIG. 1B, flap of the vacuum pack
has a gap 46 at its top side, which gap is formed by opposite
sidewalls i6 of the vacuum pack 1. As will be specified
hereinbelow, according to a particular aspect of the invention,
this gap may act as filter means which passes a liquid and forms a
barrier to the granular material contained in the vacuum pack.
31. The apparatus further comprises opposite clamping means 48
which, in use, can press the above-mentioned opposite sidewalls of
the flap-shaped portion 44 of the vacuum pack 1 towards each other
to obtain a narrow gap between these sidewalls 16 of the vacuum
pack. The clamping means 48 consist of two flat plates 50 located
on either side of the flap-shaped part 44 that can be moved towards
and from each other by means of drive means 52. The apparatus
further comprises a control unit 54 controlling the
liquid-dispensing means 24, the drive means 32, the drive mechanism
38 and the drive means 52.
32. The operation of the apparatus according to FIG. 2 is as
follows. By means of signals , the control unit 54 controls the
drive means 32 and the drive mechanism 38 so that the needle-shaped
tube 30 and the sidewall 34 are moved upwards. This involves the
top side of the holder 22 becoming entirely clear. Via the opening
56, a vacuum pack as shown in FIG. 1 can now be inserted into the
holder 22. When this has been done, a user can for instance press a
button 58 of the control unit 54 to indicate that now a new
consumption can be prepared. The control unit 54 activates the
drive mechanism 38 so that the sidewall 34 is moved down until it
touches the rectangular bottom wall 6 of the vacuum pack 1. Then,
the drive mechanism 38 continues pressing the sidewall 34 against
the bottom wall 6 of the vacuum pack 1. As a result, the vacuum
pack 1 is pressed down as a whole. Owing to the funnel shape of the
holder 22, the sidewalls of the holder will enclose the vacuum pack
tightly. Also, the control unit 54 controls the drive means 52 so
that the flat plates are pressed towards each other. As a result,
the clamping means, located in the flap-shaped poxtion 44, press
the opposite sidewalls of the vacuum pack together to obtain a
narrow gap 46 between these sidewalls of the vacuum pack. The
control unit 54 controls the drive mechanism 32 for moving the
needle-shaped tube 30 downwards. This will involve the
needle-shaped tube 30 being moved through the opening 40 of the
sidewall 34. As a result, the free end 60 of the needle-shaped tube
30 will draw an opening in the bottom wall G of the vacuum pack.
The needle-shaped tube 30 will now extend into the inner space of
the vacuum pack 1. Then, the control unit 54 activates the
liquid-dispensing means 24. This causes hot water to be fed to the
needle-shaped tube 30 via the conduit 28. The hot water will be
forced into the inner space of the vacuum pack 1 via the open end
60 of the needle-shaped tube. Because of the supply of the hot
water to the inner space of the vacuum pack 1, the pressure in the
vacuum pack will increase. AB the vacuum pack is tightly enclosed
by the holder 22 on all sides, the vacuum pack will not bulge
notably as a result of the high internal pressures However, the
pressure on the closing seam 14 will increase substantially. At a
given moment, the pressure will have increased thus highly that the
closing seam 34 bursts open. This will permit the extract meanwhile
formed in the vacuum pack 1 to flow out of the vacuum pack I via
the gap 46, to be for instance received in a container 61. The
narrow gap 46 here acts as a filter which forms a barrier to
granular material in the vacuum pack and which passes the coffee
extract formed. The clamping means 48 provide that this gap remains
sufficiently narrow to be able to function properly as a filter.
Next, the control unit 54 stops the liquid-dispensing unit 24 when
the right amount of hot water has been dispensed. The extract
beverage contained in the container 61 is now ready for
consumption. The control unit 54 then activates the drive means 52
for moving the flat plates 50 apart. The control unit 54 also
activates the drive means 32 for moving the needle-shaped tube 30
upwards so that it is pulled from the used vacuum pack 1. Then, the
drive mechanism 38 is activated for moving the sidewall 34 upwards.
The used vacuum pack 1 can now be removed from the holder 22, after
which the apparatus is ready to be filled with a new vacuum pack 1
for preparing coffee afresh as described hereinabove. It is
observed that in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the apparatus
comprises relatively movable sidewalls (sidewall 34 relative to
other sidewalls of the holder 22) and pressure means (drive
mechanism 38) for pressing these sidewalls against the vacuum pack
during at least a portion of the period in which a liquid is fed to
the vacuum pack via the needle-shaped tube.
33. According to a particular variant, the clamping means 4B of the
apparatus 20 are omitted. In that case, however, a slightly
modified type of vacuum pack is used, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
The vacuum pack according to FIGS. 3A and 3B is characterized in
that the opposite sidewalls 16 of the vacuum pack 1 in the
flap-shaped portion 44 are attached to reach other at a number of
positions 62 in such a manner that gaps 64 are formed between these
positions. These gaps 64 now form the above-mentioned filter means.
The attachment of the opposite sidewalls of the packing sheet at
position 62 is of such a strong design, for instance by means of
heat-sealing, that this attachment is not broken when the liquid
pressure in the pack is substantially increased. When coffee is to
be prepared by means of the vacuum pack according to FIGS. 3A and
3B, this pack is placed in the holder 22 as discussed in respect of
FIG. 2. The control unit 54 will activate the drive mechanism 38
for pressing the sidewall 34 downwards. When the vacuum pack is
thus tightly enclosed by the holder 22, the control unit 54
activates the drive means 32 so that the needle-shaped tube 30 is
moved downwards. By means of the free end 60, a puncture is made in
the bottom of the vacuum pack, as described hereinabove. Then, the
control unit 54 activates the liquid-dispensing means for feeding
hot water to the inside of the vacuum pack 1. Because of the high
pressure in the vacuum pack, the closing seam 14, in this example
located between the bottom wall 6 and the gaps 64 of the vacuum
pack, will be pulled open. Next, the coffee extract will leave the
vacuum pack 1 via the gaps 64 to be received in the bowl 61.
However, the gaps 64 are thus narrow that the ground coffee 4 does
not leave the vacuum pack. It is observed that it is also possible
that in the vacuum pack according to FIG. 3A, the positions 62 and
the gaps 64 are located between the closing seam 14 and the bottom
wall 10. Such variants are all understood to fall within the
framework of the invention.
34. With reference to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of an
apparatus according to the invention will now be described.
According to this embodiment, the complete holder 22, except the
sidewall 34 of the holder 22, is replaced by a holder as shown in
FIG. 4A. This holder is included in a flexible envelope as shown in
FIG. 4B, which flexible envelope is included in a rigid housing as
shown in FIG. 4C.
35. The holder 22' as shown in FIG. 4A has a shape corresponding to
the holder 22 as shown in FIG. 2. However, the holder comprises a
first pair of opposite vertical sidewalls 66, the distance between
these sidewalls at a top side 68 of the holder being greater than
the distance between these sidewalls at a bottom side 70 of the
holder. The holder has its bottom side again provided with a
slotted outlet 26, thronigh which, in use, the flap-shaped portion
44 of the vacuum pack 1 can project outside. In FIG. 4A, the vacuum
pack as included in the holder 22' in use is shown in dotted
lines.
36. These two opposite-vertical sidewalls 66 of the holder 22' are
designed for movement relative to each other. These sidewalle 66
are interconnected at their bottom sides adjacent the slotted
outlet 26 by means of V-shaped springs 70 whose legs are each
attached to an inside of a vertical sidewall 66. The holder 22'
further comprises a second pair of opposite sidewalls 72, designed
for movement relative to each other. The sidewalls 72 are of
triangular design, the arrangement being such that the sidewalls 72
and 66 substantially have the shape of the vacuum pack I when the
vacuum pack 1 is placed upside down. By means of flexible
connections 74, the sidewalls 72 are connected to the sidewalls 66,
with the sidewalls 72 being situated outside the space between the
sidewalls 66. The flexible connections 74 can for instance be
formed by flexible plastic threads.
37. The holder 22' is inserted into the flexible envelope 76 which
forms the above-mentioned pressure means, with a fluid pressure
member 78. The flexible envelope 76 is double-walled and
substantially follows the shape of the vertical sidewalls. of the
holder 22'. The flexible envelope is open at its top and bottom
sides and has hence the shape of a tapering cylinder. The flexible
envelope is entirely of double-walled design. Between the double
walls, an inner space 80 is present. The flexible envelope further
comprises an inlet 2 for feedixn a fluid, such as for instance
compressed air, to the inner aptce 80. In this example, by means of
the pressure member 78, compressed air is. supplied to the inlet
82.
38. In turn, the flexible envelope 74 is included into the rigid
housing 84, shown in FIG. 4C. The rigid housing again generally
follows the shape of the holder 22'. Provided in a sidewall 86 of
the rigid housing 84 is an opening 88 through which the inlet 82 of
the flexible envelope 76 can project outside. The rigid housing 86,
too, has its bottom side provided with a slotted opening 90 through
which the flap-shaped portion 44 of the vacuum pack 1 can project
outside. The rigid housing 84 is open at its top side. When the
holder 22 of FIG. 1 is replaced by the assembly consisting of the
holder 22', the flexible envelope 76 and the rigid housing 84, an
apparatus and system as shown in FIG. 5 is formed. In FIG. 5, the
holder according to FIG. 4A and the envelope dAcqrding to FIG. 4B
are left out, for the sake of convenience. The operation of the
system is as follows.
39. The control unit 54 controls the drive means 32 and the drive
mechanism 38 in such a manner that the needle-shaped tube 30 and
the sidewall 34 are moved entirely upwards. A user can then place a
vacuum pack 1 upside down in the holder 22'. The flap-shaped
portion 44 of the vacuum pack 1 projects outside through the
openings located at the bottom side of the holder 22', the flexible
envelope 76 and the rigid housing 84. In this example, the vacuum
pack 1 is of a type as described with respect to FIG. 3A. This
explains why in the apparatus according to FIG. 5 the clamping
means 48 are left out, although this is of course not essential to
the invention. When the vacuum pack 1 has thus been inserted into
the holder, the control unit 54 activates the drive mechanism 38
for moving the sidewall 34 downwards. In other words, the vertical
sidewalls of the holder 22 on the one hand and the horizontal
sidewall 34 of the holder on the other are movable relative to each
other. The control unit 54 also activates the pressure member 78.
This causes compressed air to be supplied to the inner space 80 of
the flexible envelope 76. The flexible envelope 76 is thereby
inflated. As the flexible envelope is contained within the rigid
housing 84, the flexible envelope 76 will press the opposite
sidewalls 66 of the holder 22' towards each other. The flexible
envelope will also press the opposite sidewalls 72 towards each
other. Consequently, the vacuum pack 1 is tightly enclosed. After
or before the vacuum pack is tightly. enclosed, or simultaneously
therewith, the control unit S4 activates the drive means 32 so that
the needle-shaped tube 30 is moved downwards. The free end 60 of
the needle-shaped tube 30 is then pricked through the bottom 66 of
the vacuum pack 1 and is eventually located within the vacuum pack.
Then, the control unit 54 activates the liguid-dispensing means 24
for feeding, in this example, hot water to the vacuum pack 1. This
hot water will again cause the pressure in the vacuum pack to
increase substantially. As the holder 22' encloses the vacuum pack
1 tightly, the hot water will find an escape via the closing seam
14 of the vacuum pack. When the pressure is sufficiently high, the
closing seam 14 will be torn open and the extract can leave the
vacuum pack via the gaps 46 and flow to the bowl 61. It is observed
that the control unit 54 activates the pressure member 78 in any
case during a period in which hot water is fed to the vacuum pack
1.
40. It is also observed that the invention is by no means limited
to the embodiments described hereinabove. For instance, the vacuum
pack may also be of rectangular design. In that case, the holder
22, the holder 22', the flexible envelope 76 and the rigid housing
84 may likewise be rectangular, i.e. having their shapes adapted to
that of the vacuum pack. Preferably, the apparatus as described
hereinabove is used for preparing one cup of coffee. However, it is
also possible to prepare two or more and even a pitcher of coffee
by means of the apparatus. In that case, however, a larger vacuum
pack should be used, because more ground coffee is necessary. Such
variants are all understood to fall within the framework of the
invention.
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