IP Library Granted Patent US 9,788,681
Granted Patent B2
US 9,788,681 · App. 14/652,273 · Granted Oct 17, 2017

Parametric recipes for preparing beverage with capsules in a centrifugal brewing system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,788,681
App. No.
14/652,273
Granted
Oct 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to the preparation of a beverage by centrifugation of a capsule, by: Recognizing the type of the capsule inserted in the centrifuging brewing device, and/or its ingredients; Selecting accordingly a recipe comprising at least two sets of target values for parameters of the centrifuging brewing device, each set being associated to a specific condition; Controlling the parameters of the centrifuging brewing device so as to reach the target values of the set associated to the specific condition that is currently met.

Claims (31)

1. A method for preparing a beverage by centrifugation of a capsule in a centrifuging brewing device of a beverage preparation system, the beverage preparation system comprising a heater, a pump, a motor, a recognition device, a database of recipes, and a controller adapted to control parameters of the centrifuging brewing device used during beverage preparation, the method comprising:

determining recognition information related to a type of the capsule inserted by a user in the centrifuging brewing device, and/or ingredients enclosed within the capsule;

selecting a recipe according to the recognition information, the recipe comprising at least two sets of target values for the parameters of the centrifuging brewing device, each set being associated to a specific condition, the recipe comprises at least two brewing phases comprising a first brewing phase and a second brewing phase defined respectively by a first set and a second set of the at least two sets of the target values, each set comprising a target temperature of the heater, a target flow rate of the pump, and a target rotational speed of the motor;

controlling the parameters of the centrifuging brewing device to reach a particular set of the target values from the at least two sets of the target values, the particular set is associated to the specific condition that is currently met; and

injecting liquid in the capsule.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the specific condition is related to a volume of the beverage already prepared.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two sets of the target values relate to at least two sequential brewing phases.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the specific condition is related to a time elapsed since beginning of the beverage preparation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the target values for the parameters of the centrifuging brewing device is related to at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a volume of the liquid to introduce in the capsule during a specific phase of the beverage preparation, a flow rate of the liquid, a waiting time after the specific phase of the beverage preparation, an acceleration/deceleration function of a rotational speed of the centrifuging brewing unit during the specific phase of the beverage preparation or during transition between specific phases, an initial flow rate of the liquid introduced into the capsule during the specific phase of the beverage preparation or during the transition between the specific phases, an acceleration/deceleration of a flow rate of the liquid introduced into the capsule during the specific phase of the beverage preparation or during the transition between the specific phases, a temperature of the liquid during the specific phase of the beverage preparation, a target temperature of a collector of the centrifuging brewing device during the specific phase of the beverage preparation or a pre-wetting process, and a minimal rotational speed of the centrifuging brewing unit during the specific phase of the beverage preparation.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, during the determination of the recognition information, an identifier provided on the capsule inserted in the centrifuging brewing device is read, the identifier comprising information suitable for the controller to retrieve or determine a type of the capsule and/or the ingredients enclosed within the capsule and/or a type of the beverage to prepare with the capsule.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identifier comprises a code provided on the capsule, the code being read in rotation after introduction of the capsule in the centrifuging brewing device.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identifier comprises information related to a location where the recipe may be accessed, the controller being arranged to retrieve the recipe using the information related to a location during the selection of the recipe.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identifier comprises at least part of information related to the recipe selected to be used with the capsule, the controller being arranged to use the information if the recipe cannot be retrieved and/or in place of corresponding parameters of the recipe.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of the target values of the first brewing phase is associated to a condition that states that the first brewing phase is run under the first set, after the end of a pre-wetting phase or a pre-wetting waiting phase, until a volume of the beverage already prepared is greater than or equal to a first phase volume threshold of the liquid introduced into the capsule.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second set of the target values of the second brewing phase is associated to a condition that states that the second brewing phase is run under the second set, after the end of the first brewing phase, until a volume of the beverage is already prepared is greater than or equal to a second phase volume threshold of the liquid introduced into the capsule.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the recipe comprises a third brewing phase defined by a third set of the target values and associated to a condition to be run after the end of the second brewing phase until a volume of the beverage already prepared is at least equal to a volume of beverage to prepare.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the beverage preparation system comprises a collector, and the third set of the target values comprises a target temperature of the collector.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the recipe comprises a set of parameters defining a drying phase associated to a condition that states that the drying phase starts under the set, after a last brewing phase, until drying is completed or a time is elapsed, the set comprising a target rotational speed of the motor, an OFF command for switching off the heater, and/or an OFF command for switching of the pump.

15. The method according to claim 1 comprising identifying the type of the capsule by the identifier provided on the capsule, wherein the recipe comprises an exit condition for the identification of the type of the capsule.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the beverage preparation system comprises a collector, and the at least two sets of the target values each further comprise a target temperature of the collector.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two brewing phases are for the same beverage.

18. A centrifuging brewing device for preparing a beverage by centrifugation of a capsule, the centrifuging brewing device comprising:

a heater;

a pump;

a motor;

a rotary capsule holder of the centrifuging brewing device for holding the capsule;

a rotary drive to drive the capsule in rotational centrifugation;

an injection member for injecting liquid in the capsule, wherein the injection member is connected to the pump;

a controller connected to at least the rotary drive and the pump which is designed to vary a flow rate of the beverage and/or a volume of the beverage, the controller is arranged to execute steps of preparing the beverage; and

a recognition information member to determine the recognition information related to a type of the capsule inserted in the centrifuging brewing device; and

a database of recipes, each recipe comprising at least a first brewing phase and a second brewing phase defined respectively by a first set and a second set of target values, each set comprising a target temperature of the heater, a target flow rate of the pump, and a target rotational speed of the motor.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0165 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO SHOW THE FULL AND CORRECT NEW NAME IN SECTION 51. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049391 FRAME: 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049853/0398 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049391/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2017
From: PERENTES, ALEXANDRE; SIEGRIST, PETER
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 042346/0361 →