# US 2021/0274959 A1 · Capsule-Based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

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- Number: US 2021/0274959 A1
- Document ID: US20210274959A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/201,838
- Filed: 2021-03-15
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-09
- Assignees: La Vit Technology LLC
- Applicants: La Vit Technology LLC
- Inventors: Gian Matteo Lo Faro; Alan M. Crosby; George Kingman Bonnoitt; David Preston Adams; Alan Kenneth Stratton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274959A1

## 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 31/3695: {Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet (cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673)}
- A47J 31/4482: {Details allowing to adapt the beverage-making apparatus to the size of the brewing vessel or the beverage container, e.g. with adjustable support for the beverage container or adjustable hot water outlet}
- A47J 31/4492: {Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge}
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## Abstract

A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A beverage dispenser that dispenses a brewed or mixed hot beverage or a cold beverage comprising:
a housing with a cover;
a controller in said housing;
a water heater and water temperature sensor in the housing in communication with the controller, the controller configured to raise water temperature in closed-loop operation to provide hot water for injection at a temperature sufficient for hot water brewing or mixing;
a capsule receiving apparatus in the housing configured to receive either a cold drink capsule or a hot drink capsule, the capsule receiving apparatus operably coupled to a capsule manipulation member adapted to open an inserted cold drink capsule when the cover is closed, or force an inserted hot drink capsule downward toward a bottom puncture needle when the cover is closed;
a hot water injection needle on a rotating arm adapted to be used when a hot capsule is inserted by first puncturing a top surface of the inserted hot capsule and then forcing the hot capsule downward onto the bottom puncture needle, the hot water injection needle adapted to infuse the hot water into the inserted hot drink capsule under pressure producing the brewed or mixed hot beverage;
a cold water streaming system adapted to be used when a cold drink capsule is inserted to stream a predetermined quantity of cold water into the inserted, opened cold drink capsule causing its contents to dissolve or mix;
the capsule manipulation member also adapted to rotate the inserted cold drink capsule approximately ninety degrees after its contents have dissolved or mixed causing said contents to pour into a vessel;
the cold water streaming system also constructed to stream additional cold water into the vessel as said contents pour into the vessel producing the cold beverage.

### Claim 2

A beverage dispenser adapted to dispense a cold drink from a capsule by opening the capsule and injecting a cold fluid into it mixing its contents, and then pouring the contents into a vessel while injecting further cold fluid into the vessel to produce the cold drink; and
also adapted to dispense a hot drink from a capsule by first puncturing the capsule's top, then puncturing the capsule's bottom, and then injecting a hot liquid into the capsule's top, and subsequently withdrawing the hot drink from the capsule's bottom into a vessel.