IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,274,027
Granted Patent B2
US 11,274,027 · App. 16/368,016 · Granted Mar 15, 2022

Dispenser having a cartridge holder

Inventors: Marc Krüger (Bergisch Gladbach, DE); Günter Empl (Bergisch Gladbach, DE); Daniel Fischer (Romanshorn, CH)
Assignee: FREEZIO AG
B67D1/0079A23L2/54A47J31/0673A47J31/3628A47J31/407A47J31/4425A47J31/4492B65D51/223B65D51/226B65D85/8043B67D1/0022B67D1/0046B67D1/0078B67D1/04B67D1/045B67D7/0227B67D7/0233A23V2002/00A47J31/3695B65D51/2835B67D2001/0811B67D2001/0812
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,274,027
App. No.
16/368,016
Granted
Mar 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser having a cartridge holder.

Claims (48)

1. A dispenser having a cartridge holder, the cartridge holder having:

a) at least one guide, at least one twist prevention means, or both for a cartridge, a cartridge receptacle, or both;

b) a release element configured to transfer a piercing means of the cartridge receptacle from a retracted position into an extended position;

c) a liquid connection;

d) a compressed-air outlet connected to a compressed-air sources

e) a fastening flame which engages around the cartridge receptacle in a form-fitting manner, a force-fitting manner, or both during or after insertion into the cartridge holder; and

wherein the fastening flange comprises a release mechanism which is configured such that actuation of the release mechanism results in the fastening flange engaging around the cartridge receptacle and/or in the fastening flange being shifted such that a relative movement between the cartridge receptacle and the release element in contact with the piercing means is generated, with a result that the piercing means is transferred from the retracted position into the extended position.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder has a cutout which at least partially receives the cartridge and/or the cartridge receptacle; and

wherein the cutout and the cartridge receptacle cooperate at least partially in a form-fitting manner.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder has a guide which cooperates with a circumference of the cartridge receptacle.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a hand lever for a manual actuation thereof.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the hand lever is configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

6. The dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a transmission which converts a rotary movement of the hand lever about the axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis into a movement in translation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

7. The dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein the movement in translation is raising or lowering of the cartridge receptacle.

8. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser has an identifier detector for reading a product identifier on the cartridge and/or the cartridge receptacle; and

wherein the identifier detector is arranged above and/or behind the cartridge holder.

9. A system having the dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the system includes the cartridge receptacle and/or the cartridge;

wherein the cartridge is closed by means of a membrane;

wherein the cartridge receptacle has the piercing means configured to perforate the membrane;

wherein the cartridge receptacle has a spike guide, in which the piercing means is mounted in a displaceable manner; and

wherein the piercing means is displaceable between the retracted position, in which the piercing means is away from the membrane, and the extended position, in which the piercing means pierces the membrane of the cartridge and projects into the cartridge.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the cartridge receptacle has:

a) an inflow for a diluent;

b) a mixing chamber in which the diluent and a beverage substrate and/or a foodstuff substrate are mixed;

c) an outflow; and

wherein, with regard to a direction of flow of the diluent, a flow cross section is first expanded and then reduced.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the diluent is water.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein at least one lateral channel configured to convey the beverage substrate and/or the foodstuff substrate in a direction of the mixing chamber when the membrane is pierced by the piercing means has been introduced into an outer wall of the piercing means.

13. The system according to claim 9 , wherein a compressed-air line is integrated into the piercing means;

wherein a compressed-air connection of the compressed-air line for connecting to the compressed-air source is formed on a side of the piercing means that is remote from the cartridge;

wherein the compressed-air connection is accessible from outside the cartridge receptacle; and

wherein a compressed-air outlet of the compressed-air line for blowing a compressed air into the cartridge is formed on a side of the piercing means that faces the cartridge.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the system is configured such that the compressed-air connection is coupled to the compressed-air outlet of the cartridge holder when the cartridge receptacle has been inserted into the cartridge holder and/or the release mechanism for the fastening flange is actuated.

15. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the cartridge is provided with a product identifier;

wherein the product identifier is arranged on a side of the cartridge that faces an identifier detector; and

wherein the cartridge has a substantially planar surface portion in a region of the product identifier.

16. A method for producing a beverage with the system according to claim 9 , comprising:

a) inserting a cartridge system made up of the cartridge and the cartridge receptacle into the cartridge holder;

b) establishing a fluidic connection between a fluid source of the dispenser and an inflow of the cartridge receptacle;

c) establishing a compressed-air connection between the compressed-air source of the dispenser and a compressed-air connection of the cartridge receptacle;

d) perforating the membrane of the cartridge by transferring the piercing means of the cartridge receptacle from the retracted position into the extended position;

e) transferring a beverage substrate and/or a foodstuff substrate from the cartridge into a mixing chamber of the cartridge receptacle by injecting a compressed air into the cartridge through the compressed-air connection of the cartridge receptacle;

f) injecting a diluent into the mixing chamber through the inflow; and

g) discharging the beverage produced in the mixing chamber by blending the beverage substrate and/or the foodstuff substrate with the diluent by means of an outflow of the cartridge receptacle;

wherein the piercing means is transferred from the retracted position into the extended position by the release element of the dispenser; and

wherein the cartridge receptacle is moved against the release element such that the piercing means is transferred from the retracted position into the extended position.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the diluent is cooled and/or carbonated before being injected into the inflow.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein temporally before, during, or after the inserting of the cartridge system into the cartridge holder and/or the injecting of the compressed air into the cartridge and/or the injecting of the diluent into the mixing chamber and/or the shifting of the fastening flange with respect to the release element, a product identifier is read by an identifier detector.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 048929 FRAME: 0450. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: KRÜGER, MARC; EMPL, GÜNTER; FISCHER, DANIEL
To: FREEZIO AG
Reel/Frame 058907/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2019
From: KRÜGER, MARC; EMPL, GÜNTER; FISCHER, DANIEL
To: SEARCHMETRICS GMBH
Reel/Frame 048929/0450 →
Priority Claims (6)
DE 102016200254.6 · Jan 12, 2016 · national
DE 102016212012.3 · Jul 1, 2016 · national
DE 102016212013.1 · Jul 1, 2016 · national
DE 102016218507.1 · Sep 27, 2016 · national
DE 102016218509.8 · Sep 27, 2016 · national
DE 102016218884.4 · Sep 29, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16069817
Related Publication 20190284037A1 · Sep 19, 2019
Cited By (12)
US 1,091,308 US 1,092,208 US 1,111,812 US 1,113,343 US 1,113,443 US 1,113,444 US 12,213,617 US 12,410,048 US 12,528,058 US 12,539,500 US 12,557,934 US 12,691,425