US 11,944,231 B2
System for multi-ingredient beverage preparation from various container types
Christian Talon, Vufflens-le-Chateau (CH); Christophe Sebastien Paul Heydel, Chez-le-Bart (CH); Christian Jarisch, Lutry (CH); Andre Noth, Pully (CH); Enzo Bonacci, Savigny (CH); Jean-Luc Denisart, Cully (CH); and Alfred Yoakim, St-Legier-la Chiesaz (CH)
Assigned to Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey (CH)
Appl. No. 16/763,785
Filed by SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A., Vevey (CH)
PCT Filed Nov. 14, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/081200
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 13, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/096830, PCT Pub. Date May 23, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 17201864 (EP), filed on Nov. 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0352386 A1, Nov. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. A47J 31/36 (2006.01); A47J 31/40 (2006.01); A47J 31/41 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/3676 (2013.01) [A47J 31/3623 (2013.01); A47J 31/407 (2013.01); A47J 31/469 (2018.08)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a fluid system comprising a fluid source, a fluid pump, and a fluid heating element,
two container holders comprising a first container holder and a second container holder, each container holder adapted for receiving a beverage ingredient container, and the first container holder is adapted to receive a first beverage ingredient container comprising a compacted roast and ground coffee pod, and the second container holder is adapted to receive a second beverage ingredient container comprising a soluble milk powder sachet,
a control unit arranged for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with beverage ingredients contained in the beverage ingredient containers to produce a beverage component in each beverage ingredient container, and the control unit is further arranged to dispense at least a portion of the beverage components of the beverage ingredient containers at least simultaneously to produce the beverage; and
separate fluid delivery interfaces, each separate fluid delivery interface arranged for independently delivering the fluid in each beverage ingredient container, each separate fluid delivery interface being connected to the fluid system and being adapted to each beverage ingredient container,
wherein a fluid delivery interface of the compacted roast and ground coffee pod comprises a shower plate and is configured to distribute the fluid over at least a fluid-permeable portion of the compacted roast and ground coffee pod, and a fluid delivery interface of the soluble milk powder sachet comprises a fluid injection needle configured to pierce through a wall of the soluble milk powder sachet and protrude into the soluble milk powder sachet for injection of the fluid;
wherein the separate fluid delivery interfaces have different structural and kinematic configurations; and
wherein the different kinematic configurations have different relative movements between the beverage ingredient container and the corresponding separate fluid delivery interface.