US 12,221,272 B2
Portion capsule having an identifier
Marc Krüger, Bergisch Gladbach (DE)
Assigned to K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH, Bergisch Gladbach (DE)
Filed by K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH, Bergisch Gladbach (DE)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/592,907.
Application 15/646,980 is a division of application No. 15/211,823, filed on Jul. 15, 2016, abandoned.
Application 15/211,823 is a division of application No. 13/744,623, filed on Jan. 18, 2013, abandoned.
Application 18/592,907 is a continuation of application No. 17/330,572, filed on May 26, 2021, granted, now 11,919,703.
Application 17/330,572 is a continuation of application No. 17/324,182, filed on May 19, 2021, granted, now 11,667,465.
Application 17/324,182 is a continuation of application No. 17/108,175, filed on Dec. 1, 2020, granted, now 11,820,586.
Application 17/108,175 is a continuation of application No. 16/860,432, filed on Apr. 28, 2020, granted, now 10,858,177.
Application 16/860,432 is a continuation of application No. 16/438,818, filed on Jun. 12, 2019, granted, now 10,994,923.
Application 16/438,818 is a continuation of application No. 15/646,980, filed on Jul. 11, 2017, granted, now 11,554,910.
Application 13/744,623 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2011/003677, filed on Jul. 22, 2011.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2010 031 988.0 (DE), filed on Jul. 22, 2010; application No. 10 2010 044 251.8 (DE), filed on Sep. 2, 2010; and application No. 10 2011 010 534.4 (DE), filed on Feb. 7, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2024/0199316 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. B65D 85/804 (2006.01); A47J 31/36 (2006.01); A47J 31/40 (2006.01); A47J 31/44 (2006.01); B65D 65/46 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 85/8061 (2020.05) [A47J 31/3628 (2013.01); A47J 31/3638 (2013.01); A47J 31/407 (2013.01); A47J 31/4492 (2013.01); B65D 85/8043 (2013.01); B65D 85/8058 (2020.05); B65D 65/466 (2013.01); B65D 2203/06 (2013.01); B65D 2203/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage system for making a beverage comprising a beverage machine and a portion capsule,
A. wherein the beverage machine comprises:
i. a detector;
ii. a capsule holder that includes at least one surface for supporting the portion capsule;
iii. a water inlet;
iv. a pump controlled to be activated to supply water through the water inlet into the portion capsule;
v. a seal;
vi. a groove in which the seal is located and that includes an opening, the groove is defined by opposing spaced apart walls and a connecting wall that joins the opposing spaced apart walls, the connecting wall is opposite the opening, wherein the seal is in simultaneous contact with the opposing spaced apart walls; and
vii. a mandrel having a distal end that is positioned between the water inlet and the connecting wall of the groove;
B. wherein the portion capsule comprises:
i. a base element having a central axis, and includes an open end having a peripheral flange, a closed end, and a wall structure that extends from the peripheral flange toward the closed end; the wall structure including an upper region that is annular and a lower region below the upper region that slopes toward an arcuate surface of the closed end; and when a vertical cross section of the base element is taken in a plane that is parallel with and intersects the central axis of the base element, a profile of the base element is revealed that includes a step that joins the upper region and the lower region;
ii. a cover through which water is introduced into the portion capsule from the water inlet, the cover having a lower surface that is fastened to an upper surface of the peripheral flange to sealingly close the portion capsule until the portion capsule is positioned in contact with the surface of the capsule holder and is pierced by the mandrel, the cover having an upper surface that is contacted by the seal of the beverage machine;
iii. a cavity that holds raw beverage material, the cavity extending within an interior space defined by the wall structure of the base element from the lower surface of the cover to the closed end of the base element, wherein the step is at a location within the cavity; and
iv. an identifier that includes a pattern with a plurality of circumferentially spaced geometrically shaped detectable elements configured for detection by the detector of the beverage machine, wherein the peripheral flange presents the identifier, beneath the lower surface of the cover and above the step, for detection by the detector;
wherein the portion capsule is free of a filter inside the cavity; and
wherein the pump is activated to supply water into the portion capsule through the water inlet only upon a determination, from interaction of the detector and the identifier, that the portion capsule is suitable for the beverage machine.