Capsule based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
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.
1 . A method of dispensing a beverage from a machine comprising:
accepting a beverage capsule into said machine, the beverage capsule having a capsule body, rim and lid, and containing a beverage mix;
reading a code on said capsule or lid;
the machine partially opening said capsule by tearing the capsule body along a crease immediately below the rim by rotating the capsule body away from the rim;
injecting a mixing liquid stream into the capsule;
determining a correct quantity of mixing liquid based on said code;
forcing the beverage mix out of the capsule and into a dispensing orifice with the mixing liquid stream;
injecting a finishing liquid stream into the dispensing orifice producing a finished beverage that exits the dispensing orifice.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said code is a bar code.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the bar code is a 2-dimensional bar code.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said code is a 2-dimensional code.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the code is a QR code.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing liquid stream is at ambient temperature.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the finishing liquid stream is chilled.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing liquid stream is water.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the finishing liquid stream is water.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing stream is water at ambient temperature and the finishing stream is chilled water.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the mixing stream or the finishing stream is filtered.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the capsule body is rotated approximately 45 degrees with respect to the rim.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining is performed by a processor in said machine.
14 . A method of dispensing a beverage with a machine comprising:
providing a user with instructions to place a beverage container under a beverage exit orifice in the machine;
sensing if the beverage container is present;
providing the user with instructions to place a beverage capsule in the machine, the beverage capsule having a capsule body, capsule rim and capsule lid, the capsule lid sealed to the capsule rim;
sensing if a capsule has been placed in the machine;
reading a code on the capsule lid or capsule body;
providing the user with instructions to close a compartment lid over the capsule;
pivoting a portion of the capsule body away from the capsule rim along a crease in the capsule body immediately below the rim as the user closes the compartment lid;
determining a quantity of mixing liquid to inject into the capsule from said code;
injecting a flow of mixing liquid into the capsule;
further injecting mixing liquid into the capsule flushing contents into a dispensing port;
determining a quantity of finishing liquid to inject into the dispensing port from said code;
injecting finishing liquid into the dispensing port;
providing the user with instructions to remove the beverage container from the machine;
sensing when the beverage container has been removed from the machine;
opening a recycle bin;
crushing the capsule and forcing it into the recycle bin;
closing the recycle bin.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the mixing liquid is water.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the mixing liquid is at ambient temperature.
17 . The method of claim 14 wherein the finishing liquid is water.
18 . The method of claim 14 wherein the finishing liquid is chilled.
19 . The method of claim 14 wherein said step of determining is performed by a processor in said machine.
20 . The method of claim 14 wherein either the mixing liquid or the finishing liquid is carbonated.