Granted Patent B2

US 11,230,430 · App. 17/385,109 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

Inventor: Marc Krüger (Bergisch Gladbach, DE)

Assignee: K-FEE SYSTEM GMBH

B65D85/8043A47J31/407A47J31/4492B65D65/466B65D85/8058B65D2203/06B65D2203/10

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A beverage system for making a beverage, comprising:

a single-serve capsule comprising: a base element with a cavity, in which a raw beverage material is provided; a flange extending outwardly from the base element, the flange comprising a top side and an opposing bottom side; a cover that is fastened to the top side of the flange to close the cavity; and a barcode provided on the bottom side of the flange; and

a beverage machine comprising: a sensor/detector configured to read the barcode; a brewing chamber configured to receive the base element of the single-serve capsule and having an end portion that opposes the bottom side of the flange; and a pump controlled to supply water into the single-serve capsule;

wherein the single-serve capsule is free of a filter that is located inside of the cavity, the single-serve capsule also comprises:

i. an upper end portion that has an annular convexity and a lower end portion that has an annular concavity relative to a central axis of the base element; and

ii. a barrier layer to prevent moisture or aroma from escaping out of the single-serve capsule;

wherein the beverage machine also comprises:

i. a mandrel that is configured to pierce the cover in a region that is offset from the central axis of the base element;

ii. a seal that that is configured to seal against the cover in a region between a peripheral edge of the flange and the region of the cover that is pierced by the mandrel;

iii. a pair of holding arms for engaging the single-serve capsule; and

iv. a dropping box for the single-serve capsule to fall into;

wherein the pump is controlled to push the water into the single-serve capsule only upon a determination that the read barcode agrees with a stored reference.

2. The beverage system according to claim 1 , wherein the pump is controlled to not push water into the single-serve capsule upon a determination that the read barcode does not agree with the stored reference.

3. The beverage system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor/detector of the beverage machine is configured to compare the read barcode with the stored reference.

4. The beverage system according to claim 1 , wherein the base element comprises a bottom having an indentation.

5. The beverage system according to claim 4 , wherein the side wall of the base element includes indentations.

6. The beverage system according to claim 1 , wherein the base element is made of a biodegradable material.

7. A beverage system for making a beverage, comprising:

a single-serve capsule comprising: a base element with a cavity, in which a raw beverage material is provided; a flange extending outwardly from the base element, the flange comprising a top side and an opposing bottom side; a cover that is fastened to the top side of the flange to close the cavity; and an identifier provided on the bottom side of the flange, the identifier being a barcode; and

a beverage machine comprising: a sensor/detector, a brewing chamber configured to receive the base element of the single-serve capsule and having an end portion that opposes the bottom side of the flange; and a pump controlled to supply water into the single-serve capsule;

wherein the single-serve capsule is free of a filter that is located inside of the cavity, the single-serve capsule also comprises:

i. an upper end portion that has an annular convexity and a lower end portion that has an annular concavity relative to a central axis of the base element;

ii. a barrier layer to prevent moisture or aroma from escaping out of the single-serve capsule; and

iii. a side wall having indentations;

wherein the beverage machine also comprises:

i. a mandrel that is configured to pierce the cover in a region that is offset from the central axis of the base element;

ii. a seal that that is configured to seal against the cover in a region between a peripheral edge of the flange and the region of the cover that is pierced by the mandrel;

iii. a pair of holding arms for engaging opposite sides of the single-serve capsule; and

iv. a dropping box for the single-serve capsule to fall into;

wherein the beverage machine, by reading or detecting the identifier with the sensor/detector, is configured to determine if the single-serve capsule belongs to a group of single serve capsules operable for use with the beverage machine, and only if the beverage machine determines that the single-serve capsule belongs to the group of single serve capsules operable for use with the beverage machine is the pump controlled to push the water into the single-serve capsule.

8. The beverage system according to claim 7 , wherein the base element comprises a bottom having an indentation.

9. The beverage system according to claim 7 , wherein the base element is made of a biodegradable material.

10. The beverage system according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor/detector of the beverage machine is configured to rad the barcode and compare the read barcode with a stored reference.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (3)

Continuity (11)