APPARATUS FOR RELEASING AN INGREDIENT FROM A CAPSULE
An apparatus for releasing an ingredient from a capsule is disclosed. The apparatus has a stud plate which comprises a set of openings for receiving capsule contents as pressurized jets. A jet shaping unit is downstream of the stud plate and has a set of one or more jet shaping elements. A jet shaping element is associated with a set of one or more of the openings of the stud plate. This reduces a flow velocity of the pressurized jets, and thereby prevents jets generating bubbles which could otherwise decrease the smoothness of the delivered capsule contents.
1 . An apparatus for releasing an ingredient from a capsule, comprising:
a chamber for receiving the capsule the capsule having a top cover;
a stud plate comprising a set of openings for receiving capsule contents as pressurized jets through the top cover, after rupture of the top cover;
an outlet for delivery of the capsule contents;
a deflector positioned between the stud plate and the outlet, comprising an upstanding collector wall; and
a jet shaping unit downstream of the stud plate, comprising a set of one or more jet shaping elements, wherein each jet shaping element is associated with a respective set of one or more of the openings of the stud plate, and wherein the one or more jet shaping elements are adapted to reduce a flow velocity of the pressurized jets towards the deflector.
2 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the openings are tapered, having a wide end and a narrow end, and wherein the narrow end of the openings is for receiving the capsule contents.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the jet shaping unit is integrated with the stud plate.
5 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the jet shaping unit is integrated with the deflector plate.
6 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the jet shaping elements each comprise a projection which projects towards a respective opening of the stud plate.
7 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the openings of the stud plate are tapered and conical, and wherein the projections have conical ends which project into the tapered openings.
8 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the jet shaping elements each comprise an orifice of an orifice array, with the orifices aligned with the openings.
9 . A capsule-based espresso coffee machine, comprising:
a water reservoir;
a pressurizing system; and
an apparatus for releasing contents of a capsule under pressure, comprising:
a chamber for receiving the capsule, the capsule having a top cover;
a stud plate comprising a set of openings for receiving the capsule contents as pressurized jets through the top cover, after rupture of the top cover;
an outlet for delivery of the capsule contents;
a deflector positioned between the stud plate and the outlet, comprising an upstanding collector wall; and
a jet shaping unit downstream of the stud plate, comprising a set of one or more jet shaping elements, wherein each jet shaping element is associated with a respective set of one or more of the openings of the stud plate, wherein the one or more jet shaping elements are adapted to reduce a flow velocity of the pressurized jets towards the deflector, and
wherein the outlet of the apparatus defines or is coupled to an outlet of the capsule-based espresso coffee machine.
10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a fluid collector behind the stud plate, comprising a collector chamber for receiving brewed coffee from the openings in the stud plate, wherein the deflector comprises a rear wall of the collector chamber opposite to the stud plate such that the collector chamber is delimited by the stud plate at a first side and by the rear wall at a second side, opposite to the first side.
11 . The capsule-based espresso coffee machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a fluid collector behind the stud plate, comprising a collector chamber for receiving brewed coffee from the openings in the stud plate, wherein the deflector comprises a rear wall of the collector chamber opposite to the stud plate such that the collector chamber is delimited by the stud plate at a first side and by the rear wall at a second side, opposite to the first side.
12 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the jet shaping unit is integrated with a collector unit downstream of the chamber.
13 . The capsule-based espresso coffee machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the jet shaping unit is integrated with a collector unit downstream of the chamber.
14 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the pressurized jets are generated at a transition between the ruptured cover and the narrow end of the openings.
15 . The capsule-based espresso coffee machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the openings are tapered, having a wide end and a narrow end, wherein the narrow end of the openings is for receiving the capsule contents, and wherein the pressurized jets are formed at a transition between the ruptured cover and the narrow end of the openings.