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US 2019/0337712 A1Published application
Capsule-Based System for Preparing and Dispensing a Beverage
OwnerGian Matteo Lo Faro, John R. Laverack +4inventors
InventorsGian Matteo Lo Faro, John R. Laverack, Yuanli Shentu, Kurt r. Weseman, George E. Riehm, Greg Weaver
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Abstract
The present invention relates to dispensing of a substance from a container by means of a dispensing apparatus. Specifically, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to (1) a container and (2) the automated method for opening such container and (3) the automated method of dispensing of the contents from such container into a customer receptacle or glass.
Claims19
An apparatus that dispenses a beverage the includes a capsule and a capsule opening mechanism, the apparatus comprising:
- a capsule that includes:
- a concave receptacle part constructed to containing a drink mix, the concave receptacle part having a receptacle wall with a longitudinal axis and longitudinal dimension, a lateral axis and lateral dimension and a vertical axis and vertical dimension;
- the receptacle part having a substantially flat rim part with upper and lower surfaces surrounding an opening in the concave receptacle, the rim part having an abrupt junction with the receptacle wall and extending outward away from the opening, the rim part having longitudinal dimension greater than the longitudinal dimension of the receptacle part and having lateral dimension greater than lateral dimension of the receptacle part;
- the rim part configured to receive a flat cover disposed on the upper surface of the rim;
- wherein, the surface of the receptacle part has a weakened section immediately under the rim part and partially extending around the receptacle;
- and an opening mechanism that includes:
- a capsule holder constructed to receive, hold and rotate the capsule, the capsule holder mounted in a fixed frame, wherein the capsule holder can rotate in the fixed frame;
- a fixed beak member attached to the frame, the beak member protruding under the flat rim part of the capsule near the weakened section of the receptacle part when the capsule is in the capsule holder;
- wherein, when the capsule holder rotates, the receptacle part pivots downward causing the flat rim of the capsule to be forced downward against the beak member causing the rim part to tear away from the receptacle part along the weakened section in the receptacle wall.
6 more elements
An apparatus used in mixing a beverage comprising:
- (a) a capsule including:
- an cup-shaped container part with a container wall, the container part having an opening with a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the opening having a longitudinal dimension defined by a first and second longitudinal endpoints on the longitudinal axis, and having a lateral dimension defined by first and second lateral ends on the lateral axis;
- the capsule also having a flat annular rim part with a top and bottom surface extending around the opening, the bottom surface located on the plane defined by the longitudinal and lateral axes;
- the rim part extending outward, but not inward, from the opening;
- the top surface of the rim part constructed to receive a flat lid;
- a first weakened section in the container wall immediately adjacent to the rim part, the first weakened section extending away from the first longitudinal end on each side of the longitudinal axis;
- (b) a capsule opener including:
- a capsule holder constructed to receive, hold and rotate the capsule, the capsule holder mounted in a fixed frame, wherein the capsule holder can rotate in the fixed frame;
- a fixed beak attached to the frame, the member protruding under the flat rim part of the capsule near the weakened section of the receptacle part when the capsule is in the capsule holder;
- wherein, when the capsule holder rotates, the receptacle part pivots downward causing the flat rim of the capsule to be forced downward against the beak causing the rim part to tear away from the receptacle part along the weakened section in the receptacle wall.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.