# US 10,244,886 B2 · Brewing apparatus for extracting a portion capsule > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,244,886 B2 - Document ID: US10244886B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/687,045 - Filed: 2012-11-28 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-28 - Assignees: Eugster/Frismag AG - Applicants: Eugster/Frismag AG - Inventors: Daniel Fischer; Christof Seger; Marcel W. Hueppi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244886B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/407: {with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means} - A47J 31/3628: {Perforating means therefor} - A47J 31/3633: {Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position} - A47J 31/4403: {Constructional details} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A brewing apparatus for extracting a portion capsule includes a first brewing chamber element and a second brewing chamber element, wherein the first and/or the second brewing chamber element are/is movable in an axial direction between a loading position, in which the first and the second brewing chamber elements are spaced apart from each other, and an extraction position, in which the first and the second brewing chamber elements form a substantially closed brewing chamber and wherein the first brewing chamber element has at least one first perforation means for perforating the portion capsule, said perforation means being arranged along the Earth's gravitational field below a horizontal plane extending substantially at a right angle to the gravitational field and centrally through the brewing chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brewing apparatus for extracting a portion capsule, comprising a first brewing chamber element and a second brewing chamber element, wherein the first or the second brewing chamber element is movable in an axial direction between a loading position, in which the first and the second brewing chamber elements are spaced apart from each other, and an extraction position, in which the first and the second brewing chamber elements form a substantially closed brewing chamber, wherein, upon movement of the first or the second brewing chamber element from the loading position into the extraction position, the portion capsule is first perforated by at least one first perforation means of the first brewing chamber element and then is perforated by at least one second perforation means of the second brewing chamber element, the first brewing chamber element has a perforation element which comprises a base surface and the at least one first perforation means formed on a peripheral region of the base surface in a circumferential direction, the at least one first perforation means has a linear cross section which is bent along a circumference of the base surface to protrude perpendicularly from the peripheral region of the base surface, the at least one first perforation means being positioned at a constant radius about a central point of the base surface, the at least one first perforation means cooperates with an edge region of the portion capsule to ensure a more reliable perforation operation, wherein liquid flows at angles through the portion capsule to increase an interaction distance and interaction time between the liquid and contents of the portion capsule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base surface faces the second brewing chamber element, wherein the first brewing chamber element has a plurality of first perforation means which are arranged below a horizontal plane with a substantially constant radius about the central point of the base surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first brewing chamber element has a plurality of first perforation means for perforating the portion capsule, wherein the first perforation means are arranged within an angular range of at maximum 230 degrees about the central point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first brewing chamber element comprises at least four first perforation means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brewing apparatus is designed in such a manner that, upon movement of the first or the second brewing chamber element from the loading position into the extraction position, the portion capsule is perforated substantially sequentially by a plurality of first perforation means of the first brewing chamber element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the loading position, the portion capsule is fed in a loading direction between the first and the second brewing chamber elements, wherein a cutting plane of the at least one first perforation means is oriented substantially at a right angle to the loading direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first brewing chamber element and the perforation element has a plurality of water outlet openings in a surface region for feeding extraction liquid into the portion capsule perforated by means of the at least one first perforation means, wherein, one water outlet opening is in each case arranged substantially adjacent to the at least one first perforation means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second brewing chamber element comprises a hollow bell-shaped element for receiving the portion capsule, wherein a base region of the bell-shaped element comprises at least one depression for conducting away extraction liquid from the portion capsule perforated by means of the second perforation means, wherein the second perforation means is arranged in a region of the depression, and wherein the depression leads into a drainage channel for removing the extraction liquid from the brewing chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the loading position, the portion capsule is fed in a loading direction between the first and the second brewing chamber elements, wherein the loading direction is oriented at a right angle to a horizontal plane, wherein the first brewing chamber element has at least one first perforation means for perforating the portion capsule, and in that the brewing apparatus has a spacing element which is designed in such a manner that, when the portion capsule is fed between the first and the second brewing chamber elements in the loading position, mechanical contact between the portion capsule and the at least one first perforation means is prevented by the spacing element, wherein the spacing element comprises a metal strip, wherein the metal strip has a first end which is fastened to the first brewing chamber element and a second, free end, wherein, in the loading position, the second end protrudes from the first brewing chamber element obliquely in a direction of the second brewing chamber element, or, in the loading position, bears against a surface of the first brewing chamber element, which surface faces the second brewing chamber element, wherein the metal strip at least has a curvature in the direction of the second brewing chamber element, has a passage hole or is oriented substantially parallel to the loading direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first brewing chamber element comprises at least one first perforation means in the form of perforation points, wherein the spacing element is at least partially arranged between at least one perforation point, and wherein, in the loading position, the spacing element is spaced apart from the first brewing chamber element at least in a region between the perforation points, and wherein the perforation points are arranged in a gravitational field below a horizontal plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The brewing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spacing element is fastened to the first brewing chamber element and is at least partially pretensioned elastically in the direction of the second brewing chamber element, or in that the spacing element is designed in such a manner that, in the extraction position, said spacing element bears substantially completely against the first brewing chamber element.