US 12,390,043 B2
System, machine and container for preparing fluid food products
Carlo Carbonini, Turin (IT); Carlo De Mango, Turin (IT); and Luca Bugnano, Turin (IT)
Assigned to LUIGI LAVAZZA S.P.A., Turin (IT)
Appl. No. 17/597,688
Filed by LUIGI LAVAZZA S.p.A., Turin (IT)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/056678
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/014284, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102019000012381 (IT), filed on Jul. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0240710 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. A47J 31/36 (2006.01); A47J 31/40 (2006.01); B65D 85/804 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/407 (2013.01) [A47J 31/3628 (2013.01); B65D 85/8043 (2013.01); A47J 31/3695 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for preparing a food product to be consumed, comprising a preparation machine and a sealed disposable container for preparing the food product to be consumed and for retaining thereinto the food product to be consumed after preparation thereof,
wherein the disposable container comprises a liquid-retaining container body configured for retaining the food product to be consumed, the liquid-retaining container body having an entry wall, a bottom wall opposite to the entry wall, and a lateral wall, which define an internal volume, pre-packaged in which is a predetermined amount of at least one first food substance required for preparation of the food product to be consumed,
wherein the preparation machine comprises at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit, and a control system,
wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water, and pumping means,
wherein the hydraulic circuit further comprises a first dispensing element, designed to be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam,
wherein:
the disposable container, substantially at the entry wall thereof, has an axially hollow coupling element, which defines at least part of an inlet of the disposable container;
the disposable container further comprises an axially extending injector element, couplable with the coupling element or integrally formed or fixed therewith, in such a way that at least a first distal portion of the injector element extends within the internal volume;
the first dispensing element and at least one of the coupling element and the injector element are configured for mutual coupling, for introducing into the internal volume a flow of pressurized hot water and/or steam required for preparing the food product to be consumed,
wherein the hydraulic circuit is controllable for conveying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element, for corresponding injection into the internal volume of the disposable container through the injector element,
and wherein the entry wall is configured for removal from the liquid-retaining container body, for enabling a user to directly access the internal volume and consume therefrom the food product to be consumed which has been prepared and retained within the liquid-retaining container body.