# US 10,478,010 B2 · Code arrangement and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff

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- Number: US 10,478,010 B2
- Document ID: US10478010B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/564,828
- Filed: 2016-02-23
- Published: 2018-04-26
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-30
- Assignees: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
- Applicants: Nestec S. A.
- Inventors: André Noth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478010B2

## CPC

- A47J 31/4492: {Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge}
- B65D 85/8058: {Coding means for the contents}
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff preparation material and comprising on a surface thereof an arrangement of separate codes encoding preparation information, whereby each code encodes a distinct phase of a preparation process. Also disclosed is a beverage or foodstuff preparation system comprising the container and an attachment configured for attachment to an element of the system. Further disclosed is a computer program and non-transitory computer readable medium for use therewith. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using the above devices and apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of encoding preparation information, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of separate codes on:
a container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material; or
an attachment for attachment to said container or a beverage of foodstuff preparation machine; and
whereby each code at least partially encodes a distinct phase of a preparation process.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the codes have a peripheral length of 800 - 1500 μm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the codes have a rectangular shape at a periphery thereof, and are arranged adjacent to each other along at least one edge thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein adjacent codes are rotated by one of 90°, 180°, and 270°.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the codes are arranged as a plurality of columns, the columns being adjacent each other and extending along parallel tracks, whereby adjacent columns are offset with respect to each other in a direction along said tracks.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the codes are arranged in a sequence that is ordered according to an order of use of the phases encoded therein during a preparation process.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the codes are arranged into a plurality of coding regions, whereby each coding region comprises:
a plurality of codes encoding the same phase, whereby the regions have said sequential arrangement; or
a plurality of codes encoding the different phases, whereby said plurality of codes in each region have said sequential arrangement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the codes encodes as the preparation information a phase identifier to identify an order of the phase used during said preparation process.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises:
a reference portion comprising an arrangement of at least two reference units for defining a reference line r; and
a data portion comprising at least one data unit, wherein said data unit is arranged on an encoding line D that intersects the reference line r, the data unit occupies a distance d along the encoding line D as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding line D has one of the following arrangements:
the encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal to the reference line r at said intersection point; and
the encoding line D is linear and arranged orthogonal to the reference line r.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises one of the following: a capsule; a packet; a receptacle for consumption of the beverage or foodstuff therefrom; and a collapsible container.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the container comprises a packet comprising a plurality of internal volumes, whereby each internal volume has associated therewith a said arrangement of codes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a beverage or foodstuff preparation system comprising:
the container; and
a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, said preparation machine comprising:
a preparation unit to receive the container and to prepare a beverage or foodstuff therefrom;
a code processing system operable to: obtain one or more digital image(s) of a plurality of codes of the container; process said digital image(s) to decode for each phase of a beverage preparation process the encoded preparation information and to determine an order of said phases; and
a control system operable to control the preparation unit to execute the preparation process using said decoded preparation information in the determined order of phases.